Presence and video games: The impact of image quality and skill level
Cheryl Campanella, Bracken Paul · 2006
This study investigates the impact of image quality and skill level on presence-related reactions to video games. Past research has demonstrated positive associations between image quality and presence and video game technology and presence. No study to date, however, has examined the presence effects of video games played in enhanced or high definition. This paper reports the results of two experimental studies. In the first study, a pilot investigation, 22 college students played a video game either in enhanced definition (higher image quality) or standard definition/NTSC (lower image quality). In the second study, 50 college students played a video game in either high definition (highest image quality) or standard definition/NTSC (lower image quality). Following exposure in both studies, participants completed several measures of presence and a measure of video game skill. Skill was included as a second independent variable in the study, and both image quality and skill were expected to relate positively to presence dimensions. The results of the study provide some support for both image quality and skill affecting presence, though not all results were in the direction expected.