I am neither Clark Kent nor Superman: A Case Study of Experience in Virtual Activity in the Metaverse

Abstract

The metaverse has gained attention as an important aspect of virtual word, but little is known about user experiences. This study aims to determine university students' experiences, thoughts, and feelings regarding the metaverse event experience from a virtual reality perspective. A qualitative research method including in-depth interview was utilized to collect data from 34 university students, using purposive sampling method. The interviews were applied after the participants experienced the Roller Coaster metaverse game, which lasted for about 5 minutes. In the qualitative research conducted to explore the participants' experiences with the Roller Coaster metaverse activity, six main themes emerged: Superman, Pleasure Journey, Fearless Coward, Flow, Emotion Zone, and Fear of Missing Out (FoMO). As a result, it was concluded that the students thoroughly enjoyed this experience. Moreover, they couldn't believe how quickly time passed, that this experience was a step toward overcoming their fears. They also added that the experience transitioned them to different worlds and emotions. Additionally, they had FoMO when someone else had this experience before them. Finally, it was revealed that they experienced the feeling of freedom by removing all real-world restrictions. This study might enable to the advancement of virtual reality environments, Metaverse, and leisure-based activities in particular and may reveal many potential research opportunities.