The influence of implicit and explicit biofeedback in first-person shooter games

Abstract

To understand how implicit and explicit biofeedback work in games, we developed a first-person shooter (FPS) game to experiment with different biofeedback techniques. While this area has seen plenty of discussion, there is little rigorous experimentation addressing how biofeedback can enhance human-computer interaction. In our two-part study, (N=36) subjects first played eight different game stages with two implicit biofeedback conditions, with two simulation-based comparison and repetition rounds, then repeated the two biofeedback stages when given explicit information on the biofeedback. The biofeedback conditions were respiration and skin-conductance (EDA) adaptations. Adaptation targets were four balanced player avatar attributes. We collected data with psychophysiological measures (electromyography, respiration, and EDA), a game experience questionnaire, and game-play measures.According to our experiment, implicit biofeedback does not produce significant effects in player experience in an FPS game. In the explicit biofeedback conditions, players were more immersed and positively affected, and they were able to manipulate the game play with the biosignal interface. We recommend exploring the possibilities of using explicit biofeedback interaction in commercial games.

Total Immersion: Designing for Affective Symbiosis in a Virtual Reality Game with Haptics, Biosensors, and Emotive Agents

“…Both systems that adapt to user emotions and affective agents that influence user emotions have been popular topics of research in the field of human-computer interaction (e.g., [15][16][17][18][19]). Work regarding emotionally adapted games has demonstrated how adapting game events to a user's physiological activity can improve the game experience [18].…”

“…Work regarding emotionally adapted games has demonstrated how adapting game events to a user's physiological activity can improve the game experience [18]. Kuikkaniemi et al [19], for instance, used EDA to control the level of difficulty in a first-person shooting game. Results revealed that players who were able to see their biosignal while playing were more immersed and positively affected by the game.…”

Wearable Sensor Networks for Motion Capture

“…The chest band expands with the chest to measure both respiration rate as well as volume. These sensors may be used for either a passive or active control schemes [10] [15].…”

Do we react in the same manner?

“…For example, the combination of GSR sensor readings and other biosensors have played a role for better understanding the users' affective state when playing games. These affective states have been used as an interactive component of the game [3,18] and to assess game design strategies [9,14,16].…”