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 language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 635-641 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking |
Volume | 23 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 8 Sept 2020 |
Keywords
- virtual reality (VR)
- knowledge
- serious games
- learning
- lostness
- navigation