User-Centric Locomotion Techniques for Virtual Reality Games: A Survey of User Needs and Issues

Abstract

Virtual reality (VR) video games that are played on a VR headset are becoming increasingly common in households, and though many games require players to navigate vast virtual spaces, most homes cannot provide a large enough physical space to encompass the entire virtual space. Thus, VR video games that require locomotion often provide users with alternative locomotion techniques. While teleportation or steering is typically used as a standard, new techniques can overcome remaining problems, such as motion sickness. However, a holistic perspective of user needs and issues regarding these techniques in practical situations has not been studied on a broad basis. To address this gap in the literature and contribute to future VR video game development and research, we conducted 16 semi-structured interviews and surveyed 88 participants to help explore issues regarding existing locomotion techniques. Our results revealed preferences related to teleportation versus steering and the postures that users adopt while playing VR video games, along with user needs for locomotion techniques in each posture.