That's the way I (dis-)like it! - Effect of Gamer Types and Competitiveness in VR Exergaming

In response to growing global concerns surrounding sedentary lifestyles among adults, the imperative to motivate physical activity has driven the exploration of Virtual Reality (VR) exergames as a promising solution. Personality traits, particularly competitiveness, can play a pivotal role in influencing individuals' motivation to engage in either competitive or non-competitive versions of the same exergame. While existing studies have primarily focused on sports-related competitive orientations, they have overlooked the potential gain in information from gaming-related personality traits. This research addresses this gap by using a modified gaming-related competitiveness questionnaire and evaluating a VR cycling exergame featuring solo, self-competition and virtual opponent cycling conditions in a controlled user study with 38 participants. Empirical findings reveal a notable difference in self-rated competitiveness between the two domains of sports and gaming, and significant correlations between some gamer-types and motivation. These findings highlight the importance of these personality types during exergaming and their potential efficacy for personalisation to increase motivation.