Bridging The Gap Between Fun And Fitness: Instructional Techniques And Real-world Applications For Full-body Dance Games

Full-body controlled games offer the opportunity for not only entertainment, but education and exercise as well. Refined gameplay mechanics and content can boost intrinsic motivation and keep people playing over a long period of time, which is desirable for individuals who struggle with maintaining a regular exercise program. Within this gameplay genre, dance rhythm games have proven to be popular with game console owners. Yet, while other types of games utilize story mechanics that keep players engaged for dozens of hours, motion-controlled dance games are just beginning to incorporate these elements. In addition, this control scheme is still young, only becoming commercially available in the last few years. Instructional displays and clear real-time feedback remain difficult challenges. This thesis investigates the potential for full-body dance games to be used as tools for entertainment, education, and fitness. We built several game prototypes to investigate visual, aural, and tactile methods for instruction and feedback. We also evaluated the fitness potential of the game Dance Central 2 both by itself and with extra game content which unlocked based on performance. Significant contributions include a framework for running a longitudinal video game study, results indicating high engagement with some fitness potential, and informed discussion of how dance games could make exertion a more enjoyable experience

ABSTRACT

Dance games are one of the most popular types of bodycontrolled console games, making them ideal candidates for initiating exertion in players who do not exercise regularly. However, in order to become effective tools for consistent cardiovascular exercise, dance games need to maintain interest over a long time span. One solution that could help with long-term engagement is the addition of more narrative, competitive, and decorative elements. While other gameplay genres utilize this content to keep players involved, motion-controlled dance games are just beginning to incorporate these elements. We built Dance Enhanced, a website designed to offer earnable content to players of the game Dance Central 2. We conducted a four-week study comparing a group of participants playing the game alone with a group that also had access to the website. In this paper, we discuss the methodology for designing and operating this study, as well as our results, which indicated the potential for higher interest in competition, characters and storylines when presented with extra content

Teach Me To Dance: Exploring Player Experience And Performance In Full Body Dance Games

We present a between-subjects user study designed to compare a dance instruction video to a rhythm game interface. The goal of our study is to answer the question: can these games be an effective learning tool for the activity they simulate? We use a body controlled dance game prototype which visually emulates current commercial games. Our research explores the player\u27s perceptions of their own capabilities, their capacity to deal with a high influx of information, and their preferences regarding body-controlled video games. Our results indicate that the game-inspired interface elements alone were not a substitute for footage of a real human dancer, but participants overall preferred to have access to both forms of media. We also discuss the dance rhythm game as abstracted entertainment, exercise motivation, and realistic dance instruction. Copyright 2011 ACM

Vibraudio Pose: An Investigation Of Non-Visual Feedback Roles For Body Controlled Video Games

Current video games operate on the assumption of the player continuously facing the screen, which limits the possibilities in fullbody gaming. Using commodity game controllers to capture fullbody poses, we investigate player performance and experience in 3D video games using positive and negative reinforcement along audio, vibration and visual channels. To explore this, we conducted a study regarding non-visual feedback\u27s effect on participating player\u27s experience and performance. The results indicate that players sometimes performed faster with a visual guide, but preferred visual and non-visual feedback almost equally. Between non-visual feedback types, they performed fastest and preferred audio in a positive role and vibration in a negative role. Additionally, participants preferred vibration to audio as a feedback mechanism. © 2010 ACM

Understanding Visual Interfaces For The Next Generation Of Dance-Based Rhythm Video Games

We present an experimental study exploring how to best guide users when playing RealDance, a next generation dancing game prototype. It uses four Nintendo Wii remotes, attached to the wrists and ankles, to create a 3D spatial interface utilizing the entire body to more closely mimic real dancing. Since RealDance requires a player to use both arms and legs, the player needs to know which of their four limbs to use, where they are expected to move, and when they are expected to move in the dance sequence. To understand the best way to present this information, we implemented three visual interface methods: Timeline, Motion Lines, and Beat Circles, that are based on existing rhythm video games but extended to support RealDance\u27s 3D interaction requirements. Our study explores each visual interface\u27s effectiveness in conveying dance sequence information and assisting the player in providing a rewarding experience. Our evaluation is based on points scored in the game, and post-questionnaires used to solicit reactions about each visual interface including which was preferred and why. The results of the study show that players had significantly higher scores when using Motion Lines and Beat Circles than with the Timeline. The results also indicate that players found Motion Lines and Beat Circles significantly easier to follow than Timeline and icon position significantly less confusing than the Timeline interface. From these results, we believe that Motion Lines and Beat Circles are more appropriate visual interfaces than the traditional Timeline interface for full body, rhythm dance games. © 2009 ACM

Poster: RealDance: An exploration of 3D spatial interfaces for dancing games

We present RealDance, a prototype video game for exploring spatial 3D interaction for dance-based gaming and instruction. Our interface uses four Nintendo Wii remotes and is independent of buttons, floor position, cameras, or sensor bars so the user is untethered, allowing for natural, full-body motion. Our range of detectablemovements includes stationary poses, punches, kicks, claps and stomps, which are scored in the context of the dance routine. We describe our initial experiments in interface design, gesture evaluation and scoring, and user experience, which reveals interesting new areas for 3D spatial interaction research related to creatingan \u27ideal\u27 dance game ©2009 IEEE

Poster: Realdance: An Exploration Of 3D Spatial Interfaces For Dancing Games

We present RealDance, a prototype video game for exploring spatial 3D interaction for dance-based gaming and instruction. Our interface uses four Nintendo Wii remotes and is independent of buttons, floor position, cameras, or sensor bars so the user is untethered, allowing for natural, full-body motion. Our range of detectablemovements includes stationary poses, punches, kicks, claps and stomps, which are scored in the context of the dance routine. We describe our initial experiments in interface design, gesture evaluation and scoring, and user experience, which reveals interesting new areas for 3D spatial interaction research related to creatingan \u27ideal\u27 dance game ©2009 IEEE