Building for Hyper-Immersion: Techniques for Maximal Engagement in Virtual Reality

Abstract

Virtual reality has the potential to deliver extremely immersive experi- ences, however, maximising engagement in virtual reality is still a chal- lenge. The goal of this study was to investigate how several immersion techniques, such as visual realism, sound realism, speech recognition, gaze data, and psychological factors can be used to increase player immersion in a virtual reality horror game. Heart rate monitors and post-game surveys were used to gather information from a sample of 16 participants who were randomly assigned to play an immersive and non-immersive version of the game. Results showed that the immer- sive version significantly enhanced immersion and player engagement in comparison to the non-immersive version. This research contributes to the understanding of how to design for hyper immersion in virtual reality and provides practical implications for the development of vir- tual reality games and other immersive applications.