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Influence of Gameplay Duration, Hand Tracking, and Controller Based Control Methods on UX in VR

Tanja Kojić, Maurizio Vergari, Simon Knuth, Maximilian Warsinke, Sebastian Möller, Jan-Niklas Voigt-Antons

TL;DR

This study investigates how control method (inside-out hand tracking vs controllers) and gameplay duration (short vs long) shape user experience in VR, incorporating ATI as a potential moderator. Using a within-subject lab design with 20 participants across two games and four conditions, the authors measure presence, emotion, pragmatic quality, concentration, sense of control, and willingness to recommend hand tracking. Results show controllers generally outperform hand tracking in pragmatic quality and sense of control, while longer sessions enhance presence and realism; interestingly, higher VR experience correlates with greater willingness to recommend hand tracking. The findings highlight a context-dependent landscape for VR input, suggesting Controllers are currently the more reliable option for the tested tasks, but hand tracking could gain traction as fidelity and tactile feedback improve, informing future UX research and device development.

Abstract

Inside-out tracking is growing popular in consumer VR, enhancing accessibility. It uses HMD camera data and neural networks for effective hand tracking. However, limited user experience studies have compared this method to traditional controllers, with no consensus on the optimal control technique. This paper investigates the impact of control methods and gaming duration on VR user experience, hypothesizing hand tracking might be preferred for short sessions and by users new to VR due to its simplicity. Through a lab study with twenty participants, evaluating presence, emotional response, UX quality, and flow, findings revealed control type and session length affect user experience without significant interaction. Controllers were generally superior, attributed to their reliability, and longer sessions increased presence and realism. The study found that individuals with more VR experience were more inclined to recommend hand tracking to others, which contradicted predictions.

Influence of Gameplay Duration, Hand Tracking, and Controller Based Control Methods on UX in VR

TL;DR

This study investigates how control method (inside-out hand tracking vs controllers) and gameplay duration (short vs long) shape user experience in VR, incorporating ATI as a potential moderator. Using a within-subject lab design with 20 participants across two games and four conditions, the authors measure presence, emotion, pragmatic quality, concentration, sense of control, and willingness to recommend hand tracking. Results show controllers generally outperform hand tracking in pragmatic quality and sense of control, while longer sessions enhance presence and realism; interestingly, higher VR experience correlates with greater willingness to recommend hand tracking. The findings highlight a context-dependent landscape for VR input, suggesting Controllers are currently the more reliable option for the tested tasks, but hand tracking could gain traction as fidelity and tactile feedback improve, informing future UX research and device development.

Abstract

Inside-out tracking is growing popular in consumer VR, enhancing accessibility. It uses HMD camera data and neural networks for effective hand tracking. However, limited user experience studies have compared this method to traditional controllers, with no consensus on the optimal control technique. This paper investigates the impact of control methods and gaming duration on VR user experience, hypothesizing hand tracking might be preferred for short sessions and by users new to VR due to its simplicity. Through a lab study with twenty participants, evaluating presence, emotional response, UX quality, and flow, findings revealed control type and session length affect user experience without significant interaction. Controllers were generally superior, attributed to their reliability, and longer sessions increased presence and realism. The study found that individuals with more VR experience were more inclined to recommend hand tracking to others, which contradicted predictions.
Paper Structure (17 sections, 2 figures)

This paper contains 17 sections, 2 figures.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Gameplay Duration and Technology Affinity
  3. Hand Tracking as Control Method
  4. Objectives
  5. Methodology
  6. Participants
  7. Results
  8. Presence
  9. Pragmatic Quality
  10. Clear Goals, Concentration and Sense of Control
  11. Previous VR experience
  12. Discussion
  13. Feedback on control methods
  14. User Experience Insights
  15. VR Experience Level and ATI Score
  16. ...and 2 more sections

Figures (2)

  • Figure 1: Screenshots of games: a) A scene from Cubism depicting a partially solved puzzle with some shapes inserted, one in the player’s left hand and additional shapes floating in the play space, b) A scene from Vacation Simulator: Back to Job depicting the player pulling a lever on a stylized blender that’s filled with fruits while standing in a kitchen with a pool in the background.
  • Figure 2: Overview of results: a) Chart depicting estimated marginal means by gameplay duration for IPQ dimensions, b) Chart depicting estimated means by control method for UEQ-S dimensions.