Virtual Reality Dilemma: Balancing Immersive Experiences and Motion Sickness through Innovative Game Design Strategies
Back in the roaring 2010s, the hype around VR gaming was off the charts. We had already basked in the delights of open worlds from games like Skyrim and Just Cause, and yearned for even more immersion. But what if we had access to VR tech back then? Alas, it wasn't as smooth sailing as we'd hoped.
One major obstacle for VR gaming was, ironically, the "R" - Reality, in the form of motion sickness. According to Thomas Stoffregen, a professor of kinesiology at the University of Minnesota, around 40 to 70 percent of players experience motion sickness after 15 minutes in a VR game – a condition known as cybersickness. To avoid compromising the immersion offered by VR technology or allowing cybersickness to hinder the gaming experience for a significant portion of players, developers were left in a tricky predicament.
Starting with a touch of dizziness, perhaps followed by a cold sweat, if left unchecked, cybersickness can escalate and stick around for hours. It happens when the brain receives conflicting information: the body signals that it's still, but the eyes transmit images of movement, causing confusion and eventually inducing feelings of nausea and dizziness. This unfamiliar sensation is familiar to some of us anytime we try to surf on our phones or read a book in a moving vehicle.
So, how do we solve the cybersickness puzzle? The perfect solution would be to marry up different sources of information to maintain sync and harmony.
No Movement, No Problem: Almost!
Immersion Rating – 8/10
Cybersickness Score – 0/10
The simplest solution seems to be nixing movement, or Locomotion, altogether. While this guarantees a buffet of smooth gameplay, it poses significant limitations on game design due to its restrictiveness. I mean, it's tough to make long-term development plans when you're relying solely on stationary gameplay elements.
Teleportation
Immersion Rating – 8/10 (till teleport, then dropping to 4/10)
Cybersickness Score – 2/10
What if we forgo traditional movement or body tracking and rely on something like teleportation instead? Half-Life: Alyx, one of the critically acclaimed VR games, features two teleportation options: Blink teleportation and "shift" teleportation. Blink teleportation ensures a safe sickness-free experience, as the screen fades black for a moment and you reappear at your intended destination. On the flip side, shift teleportation leaves you watching your character zip to the targeted location with no blackout, making it less effective for reducing cybersickness compared to Blink.
While teleportation minimizes cybersickness and can be implemented across various VR games, some gamers aren't fans of how it breaks the immersion and slows down the gameplay, particularly in first-person shooter games.
Artificial Locomotion
Immersion Rating – 8/10
Cybersickness Score – 7-9/10
The aforementioned reasons prompt VR developers to search for solutions that don't require a bushel of space, opting for Artificial locomotion – a feature that enables character movement as freely as in a regular video game while keeping the player grounded. This can be achieved using a joystick or steering wheel, offering an impressive degree of freedom while maintaining a reasonable degree of immersion. Alas, artificial locomotion tends to be a risky bet when it comes to cybersickness.
Cockpit/Workstation
Immersion Rating – 10/10
Cybersickness Score – 5/10
A more sophisticated strategy to circumvent cybersickness when using artificial locomotion would be to showcase the interior of some vehicle – like a car or cockpit. This setup doesn't create much confusion for the brain since both sources of information align – making it less likely to provoke cybersickness. However, players might still experience occasional moderate-to-high cybersickness symptoms.
Moving with a joystick
Immersion Rating – 6/10
Cybersickness Score – 8/10
Using a joystick or trackpad to maintain immersion is another way to implement artificial locomotion. But, it tends to induce cybersickness. Despite this, certain tactics can be utilized to minimize the impact. For instance, slow movement is generally less cybersickness-inducing.
Movement Tracking
Immersion Rating – 10/10
Cybersickness Score – 3/10
Hardware price tag: Quite hefty
To tackle the issues associated with artificial locomotion, VR game developers have brought movement tracking into play, giving players a chance to move their body and legs as they normally would while playing VR games. This could work by integrating omnidirectional treadmills or by offering ample space for players to stride about. In this case, visual cues and physical movement align, making cybersickness less likely to surface. The snag here is that many players don't have the luxury of a large space to install a massive VR stand or the financial means to afford an omnidirectional treadmill – solutions that cater primarily to VR enthusiasts.
The Immersion-Cybersickness Dance-Off: The Future Outlook
It seems there's no panacea that can satisfy all requirements – high immersion, low cybersickness, and affordability for the average gamer. For now, that is. As we gaze into the future, there's a glimmer of hope for VR gaming, though the buzz around it has seemingly died down in recent years.
One promising avenue is the Brain-Computer Interface (BCI), which would enable users to control their character and interact with the world using the power of their thoughts. Maybe Elon Musk or someone like him will churn out a groundbreaking solution that's slipped under the radar until now and revolutionizes VR for the average individual. Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope that this happens within our lifetime!
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In the vast realm of health-and-wellness, reducing the incidence of cybersickness in virtual reality (VR) gaming is a significant challenge for the medical-conditions community. As technology advances, gadgets such as VR devices offer exciting possibilities for immersive experiences in the field of science. To address cybersickness, developers are experimenting with various locomotion solutions, including trade-offs between movement and immersion. For instance, teleportation reduces cybersickness but may break the immersion, while movement tracking allows for physical movement but can still induce cybersickness. The future holds promise with innovative solutions like the Brain-Computer Interface (BCI), which might revolutionize VR gaming for the average user.
