Immersion mechanics in superimposed VR spaces - a master thesis

In his recently completed master's thesis in Game Design at the ZHdK, Chris Elvis Leisi developed a local multiplayer virtual reality (VR) game. In the game "Spacecraft - New Way Home", your own flat becomes the players into a spaceship.

After an intensive three-semester study programme, Chris Elvis Leisi, Co-Founder ArchLevel GmbH his master's thesis in the field of game design. His work deals with immersion mechanics in VR and reveals the potentials that arise when one's own home can be integrated into the virtual world as a play area.

The inclusion of one's own home

In today's VR games, the body often serves as the controller. When the player enters the virtual world, however, the connection to the physical environment is often lost. The chosen artstyle in his VR game "Spacecraft - New Way Home"is deliberately reduced. It is intended to emphasise the mechanics and not to distract from them.

In the game, the players have to equip the spaceship with machines and connect them with energy lines to bring the spaceship to an unknown world. The game is designed for two players and lasts about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. The game is played with the Oculus Quest 2.

Including one's own home in the virtual space enables a whole new gaming experience. Unfortunately, this overlay is still technically very complex and limited in some ways. It will probably take a while before the scope of possible actions in VR games can be fully exploited. Chris hopes that this technology will soon reach the mass market and that his game can be published.

By testing the game as much as possible with different users, he was able to constantly iterate the prototype in my master phase. In the end, the VR game became more and more user-friendly and intuitive to use. The mechanics were also sharpened more and more.

This master's thesis clearly shows the advantages and disadvantages of overlays between physically built and virtual space. It also demonstrates that intuitive mechanics can greatly increase the immersion and presence experience of users in VR games.