VR Petshop: Research Experiment
Hello and Welcome!
On this page you will find instructions for taking part in the VR Petshop research experiment. The experiment consists of a 2-player virtual reality game that is played by people who share a social connection with each other. Please take a moment to read about how the game is played, what actions can be done in the game and what the procedure of the experiment looks like. If you want to ask any questions before the experiment takes place, you can do so by using the contact form at the bottom.
Thank you!
Marcello Gómez Maureira
The Game
In this game you will player either as a human player or as an animal player. Both are played from a first-person perspective which is experienced through the Google Cardboard, a simple attachment for smartphones that allows people to view and interact with virtual reality content. The goal of the game for the human player is to identify which of the many animals in the virtual petshop is controlled by the animal player. But they need to be fast, as the closing time is only a few minutes away. If the human player is successful in picking the right animal, he or she wins and the roles are switched for the next round.
Animal players can choose to play either as a fish or as a dog. They then need to blend in among the other animals to avoid getting picked by what is clearly not a good future owner. If the animal player is successful in staying undetected, he or she wins and the roles are switched for the next round.
Video demo showing the first version of the game. Note that the game you will play may look different from what is seen here.
Both human and animal players have special interaction possibilities that can help them win the game. Human players are able to whistle towards the dogs or knock at the aquarium when they are close enough. This can help to identify which of the animals behaves just a bit off. However, not all computer-controlled animals behave the same, so it might not be completely obvious. Animal players can perform little tricks whenever the human player is not looking, to win the favor of the shopkeeper. Each successful trick makes it more likely that the shop closes earlier, thus giving the human player less time to find them.
Game Controls
The game is controlled entirely by head movements, and the magnet slider at the side of the Google Cardboard. Human players can walk around, and interact with the dogs, fish or the shopkeeper (to announce their choice and end the game) when they are close. All interactions are triggered by sliding the magnet button down, which performs the action of the currently visible interaction marker. To walk somewhere, players simply look at the ground which activates a walk marker at the spot that can then be activated.
Dog players can walk around and perform little tricks for the amusement of the shopkeeper. To walk, simply tilt the head down and towards the direction you want to go. To perform a trick, look at the shopkeeper and slide the magnet button. To stop performing, slide the button again.
Fish players can swim around and can also perform tricks for the shopkeeper. To swim, shake your head gently left and right to build up speed. Since you are a fish in water, your movements will persist for a while even when you stop shaking your head. To perform a trick, look at the shopkeeper and slide the magnet button. To stop performing, slide the button again.
Experiment Procedure
To participate in the experiment, you will need to come together with a friend, colleague or partner. At the beginning of the experiment you will be asked to read and sign a consent form (which you can already read here). The experimenter (that is me) will then shortly explain the game rules and controls before starting the first part of the experiment, consisting of 3 rounds of gameplay. After these, you and your opponent will answer a questionnaire that asks about your game experience. The second part of the experiment consists again of 3 rounds of gameplay, followed by the same questionnaire.
While taking part in a research experiment can feel very formal, you and your playing partner are encouraged to play the game as if no one else was there. You can freely talk to each other during the game and in fact can use this to your advantage if you think it helps.