Tell Me How You Play: Exploring Ways to Enhance the Gaming Experience in Asymmetric Multiplayer VR Games through Affective State Visualization

Researchers have implemented physiological sensing and feedback technologies to reveal the emotional states of the players engaged in VR games; however, these methods have not previously been used in asymmetric multiplayer VR games, in which players do not have equal roles, abilities, or objectives. In the current study, we developed an algorithm capable of inferring arousal states from EEG signals. We also developed a gaming interface that displays a quantitative indication of arousal states with the aim of reducing asymmetry between players with and without VR headsets in order to foster stronger social connections and enhance a sense of presence. Based on the proposed affective game design, we have outlined the within-subject study design to compare the effects of visualized arousal states on players with and without VR headsets. Through this study design, we aim to investigate the effects of arousal state indicators on the overall gaming experience.