Spatial Chef: A Spatial Transforming VR Game with Full Body Interaction

Abstract

How can we play with space? We present Spatial Chef, a spatial cooking game that focuses on interacting with space itself, shifting away from the conventional object interaction of virtual reality (VR) games. This allows players to generate and transform the virtual environment (VE) around them directly. To capture the ambiguity of space, we created a game interface with full-body movement based on the player’s perception of spatial interaction. This was evaluated as easy and intuitive, providing clues for the spatial interaction design. Our user study reveals that manipulating virtual space can lead to unique experiences: Being both a player and an absolute and Experiencing realized fantasy. This suggests the potential of interacting with space as an engaging gameplay mechanic. Spatial Chef proposes turning the VE, typically treated as a passive backdrop, into an active medium that responds to the player’s intentions, creating a fun and novel experience.