Feels like Team Spirit: Biometric and Strategic Interdependence in Asymmetric Multiplayer VR Games

Title of the Paper

Feels like Team Spirit: Biometric and Strategic Interdependence in Asymmetric Multiplayer VR Games

Paper Information

• Topic Area: Asymmetric design in virtual reality (VR) multiplayer games and the interdependence between players in terms of strategy and biometric feedback
• Keywords: virtual reality, multiplayer games, asymmetric design, interdependence, strategy, biometric feedback

Research Background and Issues

• Identified Problems or Challenges:

  • Current VR multiplayer game designs often focus on players using head-mounted displays (HMDs), neglecting the experience of non-HMD players.
  • How asymmetric game design can optimize player experience (PX) remains unclear.
  • Biometric feedback has been widely applied in single-player games, but its potential in asymmetric multiplayer games has yet to be explored.

• Significance of the Research:

  • VR games promote player interaction and immersion but may lead to player isolation.
  • Asymmetric games could help connect players with different equipment or abilities, fostering social interaction and well-being.

• Research Motivation and Related Work:

  • Asymmetric design has been shown to enhance social interaction and PX, but there is a lack of in-depth exploration of how to balance player experiences.
  • Harris et al. proposed a framework for asymmetric game design, emphasizing the importance of interdependence.
  • Biometric feedback has demonstrated potential for increasing immersion and emotional regulation in single-player games, warranting further investigation in multiplayer contexts.

Proposed Solution

• Method or Solution:

  • Design and implement an asymmetric VR game where one player uses an HMD and another participates via a monitor.
  • Introduce two types of interdependence: Strategic Interdependence (SI) and Biometric Interdependence (BI).
  • The game utilizes the non-HMD player's heart rate to dynamically adjust visible game elements (e.g., laser frequency) in real time.

• Innovative Aspects:

  • First application of biometric feedback as a type of interdependence in asymmetric multiplayer games.
  • Balances the experience between non-HMD and HMD players, enabling collaborative participation across different roles.

• Implementation Steps and Key Technologies:

  • Develop the game using the Unity engine, integrating HTC Vive equipment and Empatica E4 biometric sensors.
  • HMD players interact with physical game environments, while non-HMD players view additional information (e.g., traps and laser paths) on a monitor.
  • Use heart rate-based algorithms to adjust laser frequency and provide visual and auditory feedback to the non-HMD player.

Research Outcomes

• Specific Results:

  • Asymmetric design effectively enhanced collaboration and PX for both HMD and non-HMD player roles, including heightened immersion and social interaction.
  • While the impact of biometric feedback was secondary, players reported significant psychological effects on immersion and stress levels.
  • The game design successfully integrated non-HMD players, providing preliminary design recommendations.

• Advantages:

  • Compared to existing VR games, asymmetric design promoted balance and cooperation between players in different roles.
  • Non-HMD players gained the ability to influence game dynamics, enhancing PX and social interaction.

• Experimental/Evaluation Results:

  • Biometric feedback mechanisms, such as heart rate and game difficulty, had minimal impact on HMD players but elicited psychological excitement and a sense of challenge for non-HMD players.
  • Both player roles showed improved experiences over multiple game rounds, particularly through enhanced communication and coordination.

• Limitations and Future Directions:

  • The impact of biometric feedback was relatively weak, suggesting the need for stronger designs and longer-term experimental data.
  • Player roles were not swapped, making it difficult to verify whether experiences remained consistent after role exchange.
  • Future research should explore the adaptability of biometric feedback mechanisms in long-term game designs and examine dynamic changes in player relationships.

Conclusion and Design Recommendations

• Successfully integrated non-HMD players and balanced game experiences, offering valuable insights for future asymmetric game design.
• Highlighted the positive effects of interdependence and strategic imbalance on social interaction and PX, proposing biometric feedback as a novel game mechanism.
• Encouraged future research to focus on role-swapping experiments, long-term gameplay experiences, and larger sample sizes to refine the design theory of asymmetric VR games.