Thursday, 21 April 2016

Phenomenology

Phenomenology is prevalent in most horror games as the player is under constant pressure and may feel more anxious. The genre's tendency to utilize jumpscares also allows the player to become more aware of their own body. Rising blood pressure and increased heart rate is more common when playing these games.

Another example of phenomenology is more immersive games. With the recent release of VR to the public, players can become more immersed within games. They utilize parts of their body to play, specifically the head, which allows for a more interactive experience. Systems such as the Nintendo Wii and the Kinect also utilize this, forcing players to become more aware of themselves and their surroundings.

A lot of action games lack the ability to keep players aware of their own body as most players will typically become immersed within the genre. Games such as Halo or Counterstrike allow little in terms of phenomenology as they focus more on the experience and the gameplay rather than interactivity.

The PS Vita (RIP) attempted to allow players to interact with games using parts of their body more, whether it be blowing into the mic, turning and tilting the console or using the dual touchscreen to increase dynamics.

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