Triggers and Responses to Simulator Sickness in Videogame Players

Data Collection and Analysis on Simulator Sickness Case Parameters in Susceptible Videogame Players

The objective of this research is the accumulation of gameplay data and simulator sickness background surveys for trend analysis, and individual simulator sickness trigger factor analysis for the test subjects involved. Rather than isolating specific variables for hypothesis formulation, this study will be attempting to collect an array of data that is a) both qualitative and quantitative, and b) observational and test subject-reported. The final results will consist of a list of possible trigger factors to avoid for individual subjects, and metrics showing the directional tendencies of players depending on the severity of their symptoms at the time.

The overall goal of this research is to better understand factors that contribute to simulator sickness, both in who it affects and why some gameplay experiences may cause it more than others. Operating from the basic assumption that the way a player moves through an environment affects how quickly that player gets sick, we will primarily be gathering data on how the player moves through the digital space and whether that behavior changes once they begin to feel sick.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Simulator Sickness
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: "Hide and Seek" videogame

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 90
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90089
      • University of Southern California

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 14 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Survey participants should have some experience with playing videogames or similar interactive simulations on 2D displays.
• At least one-half of research participants should have experienced simulator sickness at some point in recent memory (within the past year) in response to a simulated experience.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Players under 18 will be excluded from participating in the experimental portion of the project.
• manual dexterity deficit or inability to use the gameplay interface
• Non-English speakers
• Acute state of illness.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Survey + videogame; "Hide and Seek" videogame	Behavioral: "Hide and Seek" videogame

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Survey of triggers to simulator sickness in videogame players (global)	One-time questionnaire collecting demographic data, types of games participants play and any symptoms game players may have experienced in the past from up to 100 participants. This is a multiple choice tool created by the investigator.	Baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Survey of responses to simulator sickness in videogame players (global)	One-time questionnaire self-reported responses to simulator sickness for up to 100 participants. This is a multiple choice tool created by the investigator.	Baseline
Real-time player responses to simulator sickness	Automated real-time in-game behavior data collection of up to to 30 minutes of game play. Specifically, directional movement up until simulator sickness onset, changes in movement behavior before and after sickness onset, first symptoms and time until onset. 10 participants will be selected for exposure to the intervention post-enrollment.	During intervention

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Post-play simulator sickness rating	This is a questionnaire created by the investigator to rate simulator sickness induced by the intervention, compare it to other instances of simulator sickness and enumerate symptoms. Administered immediately after play.	Post-exposure to intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Southern California
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Michael Lin, MFA, University of Southern California; Study Chair: Marientina Gotsis, MFA, University of Southern California

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: April 1, 2014
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 1, 2014
• Study Completion (Actual): June 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 17, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 23, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): April 24, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 6, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 4, 2022
• Last Verified: April 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: UP-14-00222