A Framework for the Classification and Evaluation of Game Mechanics for Virtual Reality Games

Abstract

In broad terms, UX design is concerned with minimizing the workload neccessary for the user to interact with the system. In gaming, however, the system is supposed to provide a level of challenge to keep the player entertained, along with offering specific tools and mechanisms of interaction that are not commonly found across other use-cases. When talking about virtual reality (VR), numerous sources have discussed the optimization of interaction techniques, but there is a gap in research on the subject of gaming-specific VR interaction design, which we aimed to address in this paper. Focusing on the diversity of VR gaming, we introduced the term “interaction mechanics” and provided a taxonomy of interaction mechanics based on several criteria. Based on this taxonomy, we highlighted multiple target-related, task-related, and tool-related parameters that may influence the quality of interaction mechanics. Lastly, we presented the INTERACT framework, which was created to serve as a conceptual foundation for creating applications to be used as tools for user research, and used it to design an application aimed at facilitating the evaluation of interaction mechanics quality.