Virtual Reality aids game navigation: Evidence from the hypertext Lostness measure

C. Ferguson, E.L. van den Broek, H. van Oostendorp, Sam de Redelijkheid, G.J. Giezeman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Instead of traditional free movement, node-based movement can be used in virtual reality (VR) games. In node-based movement systems, players navigate by jumping to set locations. Node-based movement is similar to hypertext navigation. We show that the hypertext lostness measure can be used as a game analytic to evaluate navigational efficiency. In a randomized controlled trial with 25 adolescent participants, an immersive desktop game environment and a VR game environment were compared on the transmission of in-game educational content and navigational efficiency. Results show that the hypertext lostness measure is also valuable outside its original hypertext domain: in VR. VR did not improve players’ retention of factual knowledge, but did significantly improve players’ spatial knowledge and navigational efficiency. We conclude (a) the hypertext lostness measure is also valuable for node-based VR games and (b) VR games add to spatial learning, even when compared with already immersive desktop games.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)635-641
Number of pages7
JournalCyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking
Volume23
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 8 Sept 2020

Keywords

  • virtual reality (VR)
  • knowledge
  • serious games
  • learning
  • lostness
  • navigation

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