The Impact of Wind Simulation on Perceived Realism of Players

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the impact of wind to players’ perceived realism in digital games. In digital games, there is an ongoing and never ending quest for realism. As games keep getting more and more graphically demanding, game designers try to include senses in order to invoke realism. Perceived game realism is a multidimensional construct and while much attention has been given to visual fidelity, there are subtle elements in physical reality, such as wind blowing and floating dust, that contribute to the perception of realism.

Previous studies have examined general aspects of realism in various genres of games, however the specific impact of wind in digital games remains largely unexplored. This study aims to address this gap by integrating real-time, dynamic wind simulation into a game environment and explore changes to the perceived realism of players. The research focuses on finding out which aspects of perceived realism are affected by adding dynamically simulated wind within a third-person shooter game context.

The findings of this study contribute to understanding how wind simulation impacts perceived realism in digital games. The insights gained can inform game developers and designers in creating more immersive and realistically perceived game environments. By investigating the role of environmental wind in enhancing the sense of realism, this research advances our understanding of the multi-faceted nature of player engagement and the importance of incorporating multi-modal, realistically simulated elements in game design.