5 Must Know Design Strategies for Better VR Games

XEODesign5 Design Strategies for Better VR Games
Casual Connect
August 12, 2015

The Magic Circle Has Always Been VirtualXEODesign
®

XEODesign© 2015 XEODesign, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Nicole Lazzaro
Expert on Games and Engagement
Fun & Emotion
Consultant
• Game Developer /
Designer
• Psychology of Emotion
• Programmer/Filmmaker
• Design Innovation
• Analyst
Making Games Fun
@NicoleLazzar
o

The 4 Keys to FunXEODesign’s predictive actionable groundbreaking model on what makes games fun, carefully
dissected players favorite moments to unlock the secret of how games create engagement.
Putting Emotion into Play
The 4 Keys allows interaction designers the ability
to target specific emotions in players and keep
them playing. This increases retention,
engagement, and social sharing,
Leading Model for Gamification
The 4 Keys is a proven predictive model for how
player action crates what’s fun about games.
100,000 Downloads
Leading developers around the world have
downloaded the 4 Keys. It part of virtually every
game design curriculum.
How Games Create Engagement
Captures the essence of how games use emotion
from action to increase user engagement. “Every designer should learn
to read this language.”
Will Wright, Creator of The Sims
Free download 4K2F.com

LUX: a game about forgivenessXEODesign
®

http://challengepost.com/software/follow-the-white-rabbit

Imagine a virtual world
where you the creator
have complete control,
where the player
literally enters the
realm of your
imagination and you
have direct access to
their emotions.
XEODesign
®

Today’s VR headsets
stand at intersection of
movie like immersion
and the compelling
interactive agency of
games. VR is an
empathy machine.
XEODesign
®
Can VR Become More Emotional than Movies & Games?
Rabbids VR Ride, Ubisoft

We BelieveVR delivers more emotion than movies or traditional games
Immersion
Interaction
Traditional
Games
Movies
VR
Mass
Effect Bio Shock
Halo
Inception
Schindler’
s List
Birth of a
Nation

XEODesign
®
Based on XEODesign’s
year of VR development
and research it’s emotion
that unlocks VR’s
unprecedented levels of
immersion and presence
not 3D art.
Hololens IPD = 66, Microsoft

XEODesign
®
Most people assume that
the language of cinema
and traditional game
tropes port well into VR.
However, nothing could
be further than the truth.
VR Killer App: Middle Seat

70%
Early Design Locks in
CostsMuch of the success potential of a VR experience is also set in early design before the experience is playable.
Project Costs
(DARPA Study)
Early
Design

Platform
36 VR Design Strategies
Today we cover 5 Strategies unique to improving VR games
Focus
AudienceAudience
Comfort
Feedback
Controls
Fun
UI/UX
Emotion
PX Balance
Social
1
2
3
5
4

#1 AudienceMatch player expectations and what current VR hardware delivers
AudienceAudience
1
VR
Traditional
Hard Core Game
Genres
Casual
Games
$500 HMD $20 Cardboard

Controls
FunPlatform
Focus
AudienceAudience
Comfort
Feedback Emotion
UI/UX
PX Balance
Social
1
2

#2 ComfortAvoid triggering disgust and phobias.
Fast Motion
Precise Targeting
Fast Turn
Around a Point
Stairs
Comfort
Traditional
Hard Core Game
Mechanics
Running 40 MPH

#2 Not ComfortAvoid triggering disgust and phobias.
“I never want to do this
again! It’s way more
involved, more expensive
and makes you feel
horrible.”
Hard Core Game Player ripping goggles off his face
while playing Sky Rim in VR

The Walking Dead , E3

Edge of Nowhere, Insomniac

VR Sports Challenge, Sanzaru Games

Showdown, Epic

FunPlatform
Focus
Audience
Comfort
Feedback
Controls
Emotion
UI/UX
PX Balance
Social
1
2
3
Audience

#3 ControlsProvide direct controls native to VR
Controls

Bazaar, Temple Gates Games
#3 ControlsProvide direct controls especially those native to VR.

Platform
Focus
AudienceAudience
Comfort
Feedback
Controls
Emotion
Fun
UI/UX
PX Balance
Social
1
2
3
4

#4 FunSelect game mechanics that increases the immersive qualities of the VR experience
Fun

#4 FunCarefully select type of game to deliver on the immersive qualities of the VR experience
Hololens, Microsoft

Anshar Wars, Ozwe

Playroom, Sony

Source 2 Portal VR Demo, Valve

#5 EmotionEmotion for VR is more TV than the stage
Master of:
a. Jump Scares
b. Fear
c. Suspense
Alfred Hitchcock

#5 EmotionIn VR Whisper Don’t Yell
Emotion
Emotion as Input, Chronosapien
Interactive

Emotion
Free Download
4K2F.com

The Gallery: Six Elements, Cloudhead Games

In VR Whisper Don’t Yell
Follow The White R

Steam Crew

castAR

Emotion
Follow The White R

ZSpace Emotions of Learning

1. Audience: Match player expectations & VR
hardware
2. Comfort: Avoid triggering disgust and phobias
3. Controls: Provide direct controls native to VR
4. Fun: Focus game mechanics on VR immersion
5. Emotion: In VR Whisper Don’t Yell
6.

SXSW Panel
Can VR Deliver More Emotions
than Movies and Games?
http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/53947

So the next time you ask this
question on your VR game…
think of these 5 strategies.
WTF
?Where’s the Fun?

@NicoleLazzaro
Nlazz@xeodesign.com
XEODesign.comFree Download
4K2F.comTilt World
Follow the White Rabbit
*
WTF
?Where’s the Fun?

5 Must Know Design Strategies for Better VR Games

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5 Must Know Design Strategies for Better VR Games