Impact of Visual Embellishments on Player Experience in Virtual Reality Exergames

Yuanxin Zhang; R. Achintha  M. Abayasiri; Yanzhuo Yang; Hai-Ning Liang; Wenge Xu; Nilufar Baghaei

Impact of Visual Embellishments on Player Experience in Virtual Reality Exergames

Yuanxin Zhang, R. Achintha M. Abayasiri, Yanzhuo Yang, Hai-Ning Liang, Wenge Xu, Nilufar Baghaei

Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster › peer-review

Abstract

Virtual Reality (VR) has been widely adopted to improve mental and physical well-being through immersive physical exercises. Visual embellishments (VE), such as enhanced graphics, audio elements, and visual effects, are promising methods to increase user engagement in VR activities. This study examines the influence of VE on player experience and performance in gesture-based VR exergames. 28 adults (aged 18–35 years) participated, playing the VR exergame under two experimental conditions: with and without VE. Results revealed that VE significantly enhanced performance, perceived physical exertion, and overall game experience. These findings highlight VE's potential to design engaging VR interventions that combine physical exercise with emotional well-being.

Original language	English
Number of pages	9
Publication status	Accepted/In press (AAM) - 20 Feb 2025
Event	Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Duration: 26 Apr 2025 → 1 May 2025 https://chi2025.acm.org/

Conference

Conference	Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Abbreviated title	CHI EA '25
Period	26/04/25 → 1/05/25
Internet address	https://chi2025.acm.org/

Keywords

Visual Embellishment
Player Experience
Exergames
Virtual Reality

Cite this

@conference{56bcef8496774045b1aecaaffd82ca82,

title = "Impact of Visual Embellishments on Player Experience in Virtual Reality Exergames",

abstract = "Virtual Reality (VR) has been widely adopted to improve mental and physical well-being through immersive physical exercises. Visual embellishments (VE), such as enhanced graphics, audio elements, and visual effects, are promising methods to increase user engagement in VR activities. This study examines the influence of VE on player experience and performance in gesture-based VR exergames. 28 adults (aged 18–35 years) participated, playing the VR exergame under two experimental conditions: with and without VE. Results revealed that VE significantly enhanced performance, perceived physical exertion, and overall game experience. These findings highlight VE's potential to design engaging VR interventions that combine physical exercise with emotional well-being.",

keywords = "Visual Embellishment, Player Experience, Exergames, Virtual Reality",

author = "Yuanxin Zhang and {M. Abayasiri}, {R. Achintha} and Yanzhuo Yang and Hai-Ning Liang and Wenge Xu and Nilufar Baghaei",

year = "2025",

month = feb,

day = "20",

language = "English",

note = "Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems , CHI EA '25 ; Conference date: 26-04-2025 Through 01-05-2025",

url = "https://chi2025.acm.org/",

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TY - CONF

T1 - Impact of Visual Embellishments on Player Experience in Virtual Reality Exergames

AU - Zhang, Yuanxin

AU - M. Abayasiri, R. Achintha

AU - Yang, Yanzhuo

AU - Liang, Hai-Ning

AU - Xu, Wenge

AU - Baghaei, Nilufar

PY - 2025/2/20

Y1 - 2025/2/20

N2 - Virtual Reality (VR) has been widely adopted to improve mental and physical well-being through immersive physical exercises. Visual embellishments (VE), such as enhanced graphics, audio elements, and visual effects, are promising methods to increase user engagement in VR activities. This study examines the influence of VE on player experience and performance in gesture-based VR exergames. 28 adults (aged 18–35 years) participated, playing the VR exergame under two experimental conditions: with and without VE. Results revealed that VE significantly enhanced performance, perceived physical exertion, and overall game experience. These findings highlight VE's potential to design engaging VR interventions that combine physical exercise with emotional well-being.

AB - Virtual Reality (VR) has been widely adopted to improve mental and physical well-being through immersive physical exercises. Visual embellishments (VE), such as enhanced graphics, audio elements, and visual effects, are promising methods to increase user engagement in VR activities. This study examines the influence of VE on player experience and performance in gesture-based VR exergames. 28 adults (aged 18–35 years) participated, playing the VR exergame under two experimental conditions: with and without VE. Results revealed that VE significantly enhanced performance, perceived physical exertion, and overall game experience. These findings highlight VE's potential to design engaging VR interventions that combine physical exercise with emotional well-being.

KW - Visual Embellishment

KW - Player Experience

KW - Exergames

KW - Virtual Reality

M3 - Poster

T2 - Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

Y2 - 26 April 2025 through 1 May 2025

ER -

Impact of Visual Embellishments on Player Experience in Virtual Reality Exergames

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

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