Motion-based Video Games Research Articles

Exergaming Effects on Physical Activity Beliefs and Intention among At-Risk Hispanic Youth

With the increase of childhood obesity and sedentary behavior, it is essential to discover innovative ways to motivate youth to be more active. Many Hispanic children in the United States in obesogenic environments particularly lack opportunities for physical activity (PA). Exergames (i.e., motion-based video games) may enhance PA among at-risk populations. This study investigated the impact of exergaming on at-risk, Hispanic high school students with respect to physical activity self-efficacy (PA-SE), PA enjoyment, and intention to be physically active through a 10-week Exergaming Activity Program. Instrumentation included the PA-SE Questionnaire and the PA Enjoyment Scale. Paired-samples t-tests, confirmed by Wilcoxon signed rank tests for paired data, revealed that PA-SE, PA enjoyment, and PA intention increased from the beginning to the end of the program, but PA intention was the only measure that was statistically significant. Results provide insight for physical educators and PA leaders into a possible way to increase PA among at-risk youth living in environments where outside PA opportunities are scarce or unsafe.

Cognitive Training with Adaptive Motion-Based Video Games for Improving Executive Functions Following Acquired Brain Injury

Cognitive Training with Adaptive Motion-Based Video Games for Improving Executive Functions Following Acquired Brain Injury

Virtual and “real-life” wall/rock climbing: motor movement comparisons and video gaming pedagogical perceptions

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to examine similarites and differences between motion-based video games (MBVGs) and “real-life” wall/rock climbing and determine the perceived usefulness of utilizing MBVGs when trying to teach someone how to authentically wall/rock climb. A mixed-methods multi-phase intervention with two randomized groups – wall/rock climbing first (WF; n = 12) and MBVGs first (GF; n = 12) utilizing Xbox One’s Kinect Sports Rivals Rock Climbing – was used. All participants had no prior climbing experience. Results indicated the participants perceived MBVGs and authentic wall/rock climbing were similar concerning climbing tactics/strategies and arm movements, but were different regarding effort and leg, finger/grip, and jumping movements. Moreover, both the MBVGs and “real-life” wall/rock climbing experiences were needed for a significant difference in the participants’ perceived understanding of both the necessary motor skills and tactics/strategies needed to wall/rock climb. In sum,...

Creating wheelchair-controlled video games: Challenges and opportunities when involving young people with mobility impairments and game design experts

Although participatory design (PD) is currently the most acceptable and respectful process we have for designing technology, recent discussions suggest that there may be two barriers to the successful application of PD to the design of digital games: First, the involvement of audiences with special needs can introduce new practical and ethical challenges to the design process. Second, the use of non-experts in game design roles has been criticised in that participants lack skills necessary to create games of appropriate quality. To explore how domain knowledge and user involvement influence game design, we present results from two projects that addressed the creation of movement-based wheelchair-controlled video games from different perspectives. The first project was carried out together with a local school that provides education for young people with special needs, where we invited students who use wheelchairs to take part in design sessions. The second project involved university students on a game development course, who do not use wheelchairs, taking on the role of expert designers. They were asked to design concepts for wheelchair-controlled games as part of a final-year course on game design. Our results show that concepts developed by both groups were generally suitable examples of wheelchair-controlled motion-based video games, but we observed differences regarding level of detail of game concepts, and ideas of disability. Additionally, our results show that the design exercise exposed vulnerabilities in both groups, outlining that the risk of practical and emotional vulnerability needs to be considered when working with the target audience as well as expert designers. First participatory study designing games for young people using wheelchairs.Reflection on relative contribution of game design expertise and experience.Explores representation of mobility disability by participants in design process.Reflection on how vulnerability of participants exposed through design process.

Designing Wheelchair-Based Movement Games

People using wheelchairs have access to fewer sports and other physically stimulating leisure activities than nondisabled persons, and often lead sedentary lifestyles that negatively influence their health. While motion-based video games have demonstrated great potential of encouraging physical activity among nondisabled players, the accessibility of motion-based games is limited for persons with mobility disabilities, thus also limiting access to the potential health benefits of playing these games. In our work, we address this issue through the design of wheelchair-accessible motion-based game controls. We present KINECT Wheels , a toolkit designed to integrate wheelchair movements into motion-based games. Building on the toolkit, we developed Cupcake Heaven, a wheelchair-based video game designed for older adults using wheelchairs, and we created Wheelchair Revolution, a motion-based dance game that is accessible to both persons using wheelchairs and nondisabled players. Evaluation results show that KINECT Wheels can be applied to make motion-based games wheelchair-accessible, and that wheelchair-based games engage broad audiences in physically stimulating play. Through the application of the wheelchair as an enabling technology in games, our work has the potential of encouraging players of all ages to develop a positive relationship with their wheelchair.

Reducing Compensatory Motions in Motion-Based Video Games for Stroke Rehabilitation

Stroke survivors’ unsupervised therapeutic exercise motions are often accompanied by harmful compensatory motions that prevent proper motor recovery and introduce additional health issues. These compensatory motions are often performed unconsciously and are difficult to prevent. Motion-based games show promise for motivating patients to perform stroke rehabilitation exercises at home by themselves. Currently, exercises with these games are likely to contain undesired compensatory motions. In this article, we provide the design and empirical evaluation of a motion-based game system that addresses the issue of compensation in therapeutic games. We introduce a technique to identify and measure compensation, develop a game that meaningfully uses exercise and compensation as inputs, and use incentives and disincentives to reduce compensation. We show that this technique outperforms existing approaches by significantly reducing compensatory motions during therapeutic exercise. This has important implications for therapeutic games, which can use our findings to improve the quality of motions to be closer to therapist-supervised motions. Our techniques can increase the effectiveness of therapeutic games and reduce the possibility that they may cause harm in long-term use.

Controller Required? The Impact of Natural Mapping on Interactivity, Realism, Presence, and Enjoyment in Motion-Based Video Games

In three experiments with U.S. undergraduates, effects of three levels of naturally mapped control interfaces were compared on a player's sense of presence, interactivity, realism, and enjoyment in video games. The three levels of naturally mapped control interfaces were: kinesic natural mapping (using the player's body as a game controller), incomplete tangible mapping (using a controller in a way similar to a real object), and realistic tangible mapping (using a controller or an object that directly relates to the real-life activity the game simulates). The results show that levels of interactivity, realism, spatial presence, and enjoyment were consistent across all conditions. However, when performing activities such as table tennis or lightsaber dueling with objects in-hand (incomplete tangible or realistic tangible conditions), perceived reality was a more important predictor of spatial presence. When performing the same activities with empty hands, interactivity emerged as the more important direct predictor of spatial presence. Control interface, therefore, matters greatly to the route by which cognitive processing of games takes place and how enjoyment is produced.

Custom-designed motion-based games for older adults: A review of literature in human-computer interaction

Many older adults, particularly persons living in senior residences and care homes, lead sedentary lifestyles, which reduces their life expectancy. Motion-based video games encourage physical activity and might be an opportunity for these adults to remain active and engaged; however, research efforts in the field have frequently focused on younger audiences and little is known about the requirements and benefits of motion-based games for elderly players. In this paper, we present an overview of motion-based video games and other interactive technologies for older adults. First, we summarize existing approaches towards the definition of motion-based video games – often referred to as exergames – and suggest a categorization of motion-based applications into active video games, exergames, and augmented sports. Second, we use this scheme to classify case studies addressing design efforts particularly directed towards older adults. Third, we analyze these case studies with a focus on potential target audiences, benefits, challenges in their deployment, and future design opportunities to investigate whether motion-based video games can be applied to encourage physical activity among older adults. In this context, special attention is paid to evaluation routines and their implications regarding the deployment of such games in the daily lives of older adults. The results show that many case studies examine isolated aspects of motion-based game design for older adults, and despite the broad range of issues in motion-based interaction for older adults covered by the sum of all research projects, there appears to be a disconnect between laboratory-based research and the deployment of motion-based video games in the daily lives of senior citizens. Our literature review suggests that despite research results suggesting various benefits of motion-based play for older adults, most work in the field of game design for senior citizens has focused on the implementation of accessible user interfaces, and that little is known about the long-term deployment of video games for this audience, which is a crucial step if these games are to be implemented in activity programs of senior residences, care homes, or in therapy.

Motion-based game interaction for older adults

Decreased activity reduces life expectancy, yet many institutionalized older adults lead sedentary lifestyles: age-related changes and impairments limit the number accessible leisure activities, and nursing homes struggle to provide mental and physically stimulating activities for their residents. In this context, motion-based video games -- games that integrate physical user input -- are one opportunity of fostering physical activity, and research suggests that these games have a variety of positive effects on the well-being of older adults. However, currently available games are too demanding for this audience. My research will help foster the design of accessible and safe motion-based video games for older adults. In my PhD research, I explore motion-based game interaction design for older adults. By creating enjoyable video games for this audience, my research will help encourage cognitive and physical activity among nursing home residents, thereby increasing their quality of life.

Helping therapists make evidence-based decisions about commercial motion gaming

In this project, we are exploring how to support therapists who use commercially available motion-based videogames in their therapies for people that have had a brain injury. Our exploratory work, that included interviews and observations at the Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital (SRH) in Chicago, Illinois, exposed a need for informational tools to help therapists make evidence-based decisions about games based on their therapeutic goals and their patients' abilities and preferences. The study protocol was later expanded to include two-week diary collection periods; data from the diary forms will be used as 'seed cases' for a case-based reasoning (CBR) decision tool that could suggest game choices to therapists. Additionally, we are expanding the study to the Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital (MRH) in Wheaton, Illinois in fall 2013. We believe that through this effort, we will be able to (1) equip therapists with informational tools that will help them in their work and (2) inform design of therapy-centered games that address current limitations of commercial games.

Spatial Presence and Perceived Reality as Predictors of Motion-Based Video Game Enjoyment

This study investigated the impact of new motion-based video game control systems on spatial presence, perceived reality, and enjoyment of video games. In two experiments, university students played video games on either new motion-based (Sony's Move, Microsoft's Kinect, and Nintendo's Wii), or standard video game systems (PS3 and XBOX 360 with gamepads). The results indicate that, in the context of golf, racing, and boxing games, the higher technological interactivity of motion-based systems (particularly Kinect) increases feelings of spatial presence, perceived reality, and enjoyment. Perceived reality predicted spatial presence; and spatial presence, in turn, was a significant predictor of enjoyment. Moving toward a more natural user interface (NUI) between the player and the game world can create a more immersive, realistic, and fun experience for the player. A new model for enjoyment of motion-based video games is proposed.