Enhancing Spatial Perception and User Experience in Video Games with Volumetric Shadows

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the use of volumetric shadows for enhancing three-dimensional perception and action in third-person motion games. They offer an alternative to previously studied cues and visual guides. Our preliminary survey revealed that from the games that require Kinect, 37% rely primarily on a third-person view and 9% on a first-person view. We conducted a user study where 30 participants performed object reaching, interception, and aiming tasks in six different graphical modes of a video game that was controlled using a Kinect sensor and PlayStation Move controllers. The study results indicate that different volumetric shadow cues can affect both the user experience and the gameplay performance positively or negatively, depending on the lighting setup. Qualitative user experience analysis shows that playing was found to be most easy and fluent in a typical virtual reality setting with stereo rendering and flat surface shadows.

Depth perception in shuffleboard: Depth cues effect on depth perception in virtual and augmented reality system

“…Takala uses volumetric shadows to enhance perception in third-person motion games. 17 Shading provides information about the convexities and concavities of surface shape. Jose conducts a study to explore different shading models influence on 3D perception.…”

Design and analysis of depth cues on depth perception in interactive mixed reality simulation systems

“…Compared to occlusion, shadow casting is a more detailed depth cue. Takala et al 21 studied using volumetric shadows to enhance the sense of depth in VR games. They found that the depth effect from volumetric shadows depended on the lighting settings.…”