The Impact of Controller Type on Video Game User Experience in Virtual Reality

Abstract

The recent resurgence of interest in and widespread availability of virtual reality (VR) technology have paved the way for the use of VR systems as a gaming console. With the incessant popularity of VR gaming, the question then arises as to which input method affords the most intuitive interactive experience and provides the most enjoyable gaming user experience (UX). In an attempt to address these questions, the current study examined the impact of controller type (native VR controller vs. traditional gamepad controller) on video game UX in VR while playing a strategy game and an FPS game. Using both the native VR controller and traditional gamepad controller in a counterbalanced order, participants played a strategy and FPS game in VR and provided video game UX satisfaction ratings. Results of the strategy game experiment indicated that the two controllers were comparable in terms of perceived controller naturalness, sense of presence, and video game UX satisfaction during the gameplay, indicating that using a more natural input device did not lead to a superior VR gaming UX. Results of the FPS game experiment indicated that the two controllers were comparable in terms of, sense of presence and video game UX satisfaction during the gameplay, indicating that using a more natural input device did not lead to a superior VR gaming UX. However, results indicated that perceived controller naturalness was rated higher in the Oculus controllers than in the Xbox controllers, exhibiting that the Oculus controllers felt more natural.