Vanishing scares: biofeedback modulation of affective player experiences in a procedural horror game
Pedro Nogueira, Vasco Torres, Rui Rodrigues, Eugénio Oliveira, and Lennart Nacke. 2015. Vanishing scares: biofeedback modulation of affective player experiences in a procedural horror game. In Journal on Multimodal User Interfaces 10, 1: 31-62. Journal on Multimodal User Interfaces.
Abstract
To understand the impact of emotionally driven
games on player experience, we developed a procedural horror game (Vanish) capable of run-time level, asset, and event
generation. Vanish was augmented to interpret players’ physiological data as a simplified emotional state, mapping it to
a set of adaptation rules that modify the player experience.
To explore the effects of adaptation mechanisms on player
experience, we conducted a mixed-methods study on three
different versions of the game, two of which integrated varying biofeedback mechanisms. Players’ affective experiences
were objectively measured by analysing physiological data.
Additionally, subjective experience was recorded through
the use of the Game Experience Questionnaire. Our study
confirmed that biofeedback functionality had a statistically
significant effect on the ratings of player experience dimensions: immersion, tension, positive affect, and negative affect.
Furthermore, participants reported noticeable differences in
player experience, favouring the added depth present in the
biofeedback-enabled iterations of the game. In the future,
these conclusions will help to develop more immersive and
engaging player experiences.
games on player experience, we developed a procedural horror game (Vanish) capable of run-time level, asset, and event
generation. Vanish was augmented to interpret players’ physiological data as a simplified emotional state, mapping it to
a set of adaptation rules that modify the player experience.
To explore the effects of adaptation mechanisms on player
experience, we conducted a mixed-methods study on three
different versions of the game, two of which integrated varying biofeedback mechanisms. Players’ affective experiences
were objectively measured by analysing physiological data.
Additionally, subjective experience was recorded through
the use of the Game Experience Questionnaire. Our study
confirmed that biofeedback functionality had a statistically
significant effect on the ratings of player experience dimensions: immersion, tension, positive affect, and negative affect.
Furthermore, participants reported noticeable differences in
player experience, favouring the added depth present in the
biofeedback-enabled iterations of the game. In the future,
these conclusions will help to develop more immersive and
engaging player experiences.