Creating Emotional VR Game Narrative : Experimental Game Design Research
Hautala, Niina (2021)
2021
Master's Programme in Game Studies
Informaatioteknologian ja viestinnän tiedekunta - Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2021-05-19
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202104193137
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202104193137
Tiivistelmä
The main objective of this study was to explore how one can create an emotional VR game narrative. This was done by creating a VR game prototype that aims to evoke the emotional experiences of loneliness and social exclusion. The game Prototype was designed iteratively according to the Play Centric Design Process described by Tracy Fullerton (2014).
The chosen research method for this study was the Experimental Game Design research. This method was chosen because it suited the iterative and experimental nature of the research. During the research, the VR Game Design Process was carefully documented in research diary and the game prototype was iteratively created and playtested during six iteration cycles and final four playtests.
The first version of the game narrative was designed based on four theoretical categories. It was assumed that emotional game narrative is evoked by certain narrative elements, experience of presence and empathetic relationship with the game character. The first version of the game narrative was also based on authentic experiences that inspired the story of the game.
The first game narrative was playtested and iterated with the help of Experience Prototyping method. Four different experience prototyping sessions were held. Based on these playtests, the game narrative was iterated and improved.
After the Experience prototyping sessions, the actual VR prototype was made. The VR prototype was first playtested by three participants and improved after each playtest. Finally, the prototype was playtested by four final participants. After the final four playtests it was evaluated if the final prototype was successful in evoking emotional experiences.
Based on the observations, think aloud protocol, research diary and interviews, the game design process and final playtests were analysed and reported. The results of this research suggest that the game design process was successful in producing a VR game porotype that evoked emotions. The final VR game prototype was able to evoke emotional empathy in three of the final four participants and cognitive empathy in one of them.
The results suggest that the game prototype was able to evoke emotions because it was able to evoke empathy towards the player character. Empathetic emotions were evoked by narrative elements such as environmental storytelling, immersive experience of presence and because the game narrative had felt authentic to the players.
The chosen research method for this study was the Experimental Game Design research. This method was chosen because it suited the iterative and experimental nature of the research. During the research, the VR Game Design Process was carefully documented in research diary and the game prototype was iteratively created and playtested during six iteration cycles and final four playtests.
The first version of the game narrative was designed based on four theoretical categories. It was assumed that emotional game narrative is evoked by certain narrative elements, experience of presence and empathetic relationship with the game character. The first version of the game narrative was also based on authentic experiences that inspired the story of the game.
The first game narrative was playtested and iterated with the help of Experience Prototyping method. Four different experience prototyping sessions were held. Based on these playtests, the game narrative was iterated and improved.
After the Experience prototyping sessions, the actual VR prototype was made. The VR prototype was first playtested by three participants and improved after each playtest. Finally, the prototype was playtested by four final participants. After the final four playtests it was evaluated if the final prototype was successful in evoking emotional experiences.
Based on the observations, think aloud protocol, research diary and interviews, the game design process and final playtests were analysed and reported. The results of this research suggest that the game design process was successful in producing a VR game porotype that evoked emotions. The final VR game prototype was able to evoke emotional empathy in three of the final four participants and cognitive empathy in one of them.
The results suggest that the game prototype was able to evoke emotions because it was able to evoke empathy towards the player character. Empathetic emotions were evoked by narrative elements such as environmental storytelling, immersive experience of presence and because the game narrative had felt authentic to the players.