Hartmann_and_Fox_VR_Entertainment_Oxford_Handbook

Overview

• Title: Entertainment in Virtual Reality and Beyond

• Author: Tilo Hartmann & Jesse Fox

• Publication: The Oxford Handbook of Entertainment Theory (2021)

• Key Focus: The influence of embodiment, co-location, and cognitive distancing on users’ entertainment experience in VR.

Rights and Access

• Authors retain copyright and moral rights.

• Users can download and print a single copy for personal study or research but cannot distribute for profit without permission.

• Contact for copyright issues: vuresearchportal.ub@vu.nl

Introduction to VR Entertainment

• Definition of VR: Interactive media systems that create sensory environments by tracking user movements (Biocca, 1997).

• Accessibility: Recent technological advancements have improved VR access across sectors including health, education, and entertainment.

• Importance of Entertainment: Key to the mass adoption of VR technology, especially in gaming, which attracts early adopters.

• Research Gap: Lack of an integrative framework to distinguish VR properties from other entertainment media.

The Evolution of VR Entertainment

• Early VR (1960s): Initial developments led to consumer devices in the mid-1990s (e.g., Nintendo Virtual Boy), which failed due to high costs and limitations in comfort and technology.

• 2012 Revival: Introduction of Oculus Rift sparked renewed interest and investment from major tech companies.

• Current Challenges: Adoption remains slow despite advancements. Issues like cost and user discomfort persist (e.g., motion sickness).

• Successful Applications: Social VR platforms (e.g., VRChat) and location-based experiences (e.g., within theaters and museums).

Characteristics of the VR Experience

Sensory Engagement

• Multi-sensory Cues: Broader array of sensory input (e.g., visual, audio, kinesthetic) leading to a more 'real' or immersive experience.

Affordances of VR

• Key Aspects:

  • Embodiment: User’s identification with and ownership of their virtual avatar affects emotional engagement and responses.

  • Spatial Presence: Feeling of being 'there' in a virtual environment suppresses real-world distractions.

  • Co-location: The perception of shared space with other entities enhances user experience and interaction.

  • Cognitive Distancing: Awareness of being in a mediated environment that can allow users to detach from emotional experiences.

Cognitive and Emotional Responses in VR

Emotional Responses to VR

• VR can elicit strong primary emotional reactions (joy, fear, sadness) that may be difficult to regulate.

• Hedonic Reversals: Users can experience intense emotions but may find it challenging to reinterpret negative emotional responses (e.g., fear into enjoyment).

Cognitive Engagement

• Users may engage in cognitive distancing as a coping mechanism to reframe their experiences, which can facilitate emotional regulation and enhance enjoyment.

Future Directions for VR Research

• Propositions for Further Study:

  • Proposition 1: Examine intensity of emotional responses relative to VR's realism.

  • Proposition 2: Investigate difficulties in emotional regulation due to VR's immersive nature.

  • Proposition 3: Study expansions of self-concept through immersive experiences.

  • Proposition 4: Evaluate the moral implications of actions taken within VR environments.

  • Proposition 5: Explore source monitoring challenges in recalling VR experiences versus real-life events.

Concluding Thoughts

• The chapter proposes that VR entertainment offers a unique blend of emotional and cognitive responses that require further exploration to understand its full impact.

• Importance of Narrative: Future research should integrate narrative analysis with the psychological effects of VR.

References

• A detailed list of referenced works is included from page 20-26, referencing various studies and theories related to media psychology, presence, and emotional regulation.