Effects of Haptic Feedback on Gaming Experiences: A Case Study Comparing Players and Spectators in FPS Games

Paper Title

Effects of Haptic Feedback on Gaming Experiences: A Case Study Comparing Players and Spectators in FPS Games

Publication Info

• Topic area: Haptic feedback in gaming and its role-dependent effects on user experience and technology acceptance.
• Keywords: Haptic feedback, FPS games, technology acceptance model, players, spectators, hedonic pathway, eudaimonic pathway, cognitive concentration, gaming experience.

Background and Problem

• Problem / challenge: Limited understanding of how haptic feedback affects gaming experiences differently for active players versus passive spectators.
• Significance: Clarifying these role-dependent effects is crucial for designing effective haptic systems that enhance both playing and spectating experiences.
• Motivation and related work: Prior studies have explored haptic feedback in gaming contexts but have not sufficiently addressed its differential impact on players and spectators. This study builds on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to investigate these effects in FPS games.

Solution

• Proposed approach: Development of the Haptic-Augmented Game Technology Acceptance Model (HAG-TAM) to analyze role-dependent effects of haptic feedback in FPS games.
• Novelty:
  1. Introduction of HAG-TAM with hedonic and eudaimonic pathways tailored to gaming contexts.
  2. Validation of role-sensitive effects of haptic feedback through a user study.
  3. Identification of distinct motivational factors influencing players and spectators.
  4. Insights into haptic design principles for enhancing gaming experiences.
• Procedure and key techniques:
  • Conducted a within-subject user study with 60 participants using a custom FPS game and haptic-enabled mouse.
  • Measured constructs like cognitive concentration, perceived enjoyment, perceived usefulness, attitude toward using, and intention to use.
  • Applied ART ANOVA and PLS-SEM to analyze quantitative data and thematic analysis for qualitative interview responses.

Results

• Concrete findings:
  • Haptic feedback significantly increased cognitive concentration, perceived enjoyment, perceived usefulness, attitude toward using, and intention to use across both players and spectators.
  • Spectators showed stronger effects of haptic feedback compared to players, particularly in cognitive concentration (β = 0.793 vs. 0.511).
  • Hedonic pathway was dominant for players, while eudaimonic pathway was equally influential for spectators.
• Advantage over baselines:
  • Haptic feedback consistently enhanced user experience metrics compared to non-haptic conditions, with larger improvements observed among spectators.
• Experiments / evaluation:
  • FPS game customized using Aimlabs platform with vibrotactile feedback delivered through a modified mouse.
  • Participants experienced four conditions (player/spectator × haptic/non-haptic) in counter-balanced order.
  • Quantitative measures included Likert-scale questionnaires and gameplay performance metrics; qualitative insights were gathered via interviews.
• Limitations and future work:
  • Limited external validity due to single game context and exclusive use of vibrotactile feedback.
  • Findings may not generalize to other haptic devices or game genres.
  • Future work should explore diverse haptic modalities, higher-fidelity visual environments, and professional gamer populations.

Summary

This study examined how haptic feedback influences user experience and technology acceptance in FPS games, focusing on differences between players and spectators. Using the HAG-TAM framework, the research identified two distinct pathways—hedonic for players and eudaimonic for spectators—through which haptic feedback enhances gaming experiences. Spectators showed stronger effects of haptic feedback overall, reflecting their broader motivations for engaging with games. The findings underscore the importance of role-sensitive haptic design and offer actionable insights for game developers to optimize multisensory gaming interfaces. Future studies should expand the scope to other game genres, haptic devices, and user populations.