1. Spatial Presence
ACHIEVING IMMERSIVE QUALITIES IN VIDEO GAMES

2. What It Is
the process by which a media element entices a person to suspend their disbelief and accept what they are viewing on a screen or page as actual reality
existing when media contents are perceived as real
experience of media users that they are personally and physically present in the displayed environment
Essentially, it is an illusive technique
3. Players are put under the illusion that they are part of this virtual world
Can be a conscious or subconscious decision
Trading one reality for another
4. IMPORTANCE
5. Important to both gamers and game developers
Proven that players who are immersed enjoy the game more
Encourages the player to play the game to the fullest
Keeps players coming back
Success of a video game is partially based on how immersive the game is
6. HOW DO WE ACHIEVE IT?
7. Making the player think
The player should be required to think within the context of the game
Important to create situations in the game where the players attention and focus is fully required
Player is less likely to be distracted
Trying to sustain the illusion of spatial presence
8. Making the player not think
Player should think within the context of the game but not outside of the context of the game
The game world should be consistent and make sense
Avoid reminding the player that they are playing a video game
Do Heads-Up-Displays, game chat, damage numbersetc., pull the player out of immersion?
What about in-game advertisements?
Again, trying to sustain the illusion of spatial presence
9. Psychologists are of the opinion that the more senses we try to address in a given medium, the more immersed the subject will become
Mimicking reality as accurately as possible
Addressing the senses
10. Game content as seen by the player
3D Anaglyph gaming is currently possible and many gamers prefer it.
It is still in further development
11. Game content as heard by the player
Gaming audio is already at a very advanced stage
Is also in further development
12. Addressing the players sense of smell
Smell-o-vision has existed since the 60s but the implementing technology was poor
Talk of smell-o-vision being incorporated into movies
Would be a bigger success with video games
13. Addressing the players sense of touch
Soon we may be able to feel actual pain while playing a game
Tactile Gaming Vest being developed at the University of Pennsylvania
Solenoid actuators in different parts of vest which fire in sync with game events
14. Other immersive qualities include
A story or narrative adds to the game world and makes it more believable. Gives the player extra incentive to play the game
A complete lack of technical problems nothing is more frustrating and ruins a gaming experience more, than problems like lag, glitchingetc. When prevalent in a game, it makes it impossible for the player to be immersed
Music creates an ambience. Plays to the players emotions
15. CONCLUSION
16. These techniques are some of the ways we can achieve immersive qualities in a game
However, not all of these techniques are necessary. They merely make it easier for the player to suspend their disbelief
The techniques are particularly useful and applicable when designing a modern-day RPG, FPS or other free-roam adventure game
The level of immersion is most likely different for every individual. One player may become instantly immersed in a game, while another may have greater difficulty suspending their disbelief playing the same game
17. END