Emotional Jounrey
Emotional Journey is an immersive Virtual Reality multiplayer game designed to foster empathy and emotional intelligence. Players navigate puzzle-filled stages by engaging in meaningful conversations and adjusting their interactions to influence each other’s emotional states, visualized through dynamic colored auras. By integrating insights from psychology and user research, the game creates emotionally responsive environments where players can learn how their words and actions impact others. Through real-time feedback and collaborative gameplay, Emotional Journey redefines how we explore human emotions in the digital age.
Project Details
Role
(in Team Project)
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UX Researcher
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Basic UI Designer
Tools
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Adobe Photoshop
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Figma
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Unreal Engine
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Microsoft Office
Timeline
October 2023 - January 2024
Platform
Virtual Reality
Problem Statement
Many individuals struggle to recognize the emotional impact of their actions on others during social interactions. This can lead to misunderstandings, overthinking, and social anxiety. Emotional Journey addresses these challenges by providing an interactive VR experience where players can see and adjust their emotional influence on others in real-time.
Table of Contents
Primary Research
Understanding user needs and emotional connections was critical to shaping Emotional Journey. The primary research phase provided key insights into the emotional and environmental factors that influence social interactions. Below is a detailed account of how this research informed the design of the game.
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Research Objectives
The primary research aimed to explore:
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The significance of emotional connections in everyday life.
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Barriers to forming these connections in social settings.
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User perceptions of specific environments and their emotional impacts.
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Key moments where understanding others’ emotions could improve interactions.
Methods
We conducted a questionnaire survey and user interviews targeting diverse participants to gather both quantitative and qualitative data:
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Quantitative Component:
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Participants rated their perceived importance of emotional connections and their ability to form such connections.
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Ratings were collected on a 5-point Likert scale for consistent analysis.
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Qualitative Component:
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Open-ended questions explored personal emotional experiences and the influence of settings on emotional states.
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Key Findings
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Emotional Connection Challenges:
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Emotional connections were rated as very important (mean score: 4.0/5).
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However, participants reported difficulty forming these connections, with a mean score of 3.3/5.
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This gap highlighted the need for tools to help individuals bridge emotional divides.
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Impact of Environment on Emotions:
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Participants were asked about environments where they felt the happiest and the saddest.
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Responses revealed that indoor spaces were overwhelmingly associated with happiness (67%).
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Conversely, sadness was linked to both isolated outdoor settings and cluttered or oppressive indoor environments.
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Desire for Emotional Awareness:
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Participants expressed a strong wish for tools to better understand how others feel during interactions.
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Several participants described moments where a lack of emotional awareness led to misunderstandings or stress.
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Impact on Game Design
The insights from primary research directly shaped the following aspects of Emotional Journey:
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Game Environments:
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Predominantly indoor stages to evoke a sense of comfort and collaboration.
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Incorporation of outdoor elements for emotional challenges like isolation or vulnerability.
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Aura Feedback System:
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A system that visually represents emotional states to address users' desire for better emotional awareness during interactions.
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Interaction Goals:
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Designed puzzles that require players to engage in empathetic conversations to progress.
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Target Emotional Experiences:
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Emphasized creating stages where players experience both positive (happiness, calm) and challenging (sadness, urgency) emotions.
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 Location preference based on which make the participants the Happiest |
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Secondary Research
To ground the design of Emotional Journey in well-researched principles, secondary research was conducted to explore the psychological impact of color, environmental design, and emotion-driven interactions. This research provided a robust framework that guided key elements of the game, including its visual aesthetics, stage design, and emotional mechanics.
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Research Objectives
The secondary research sought to:
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Understand how colors influence emotions and behaviors.
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Explore the role of environmental factors in shaping emotional experiences.
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Identify psychological theories that could enhance emotional engagement in the game.
Findings
1. Color Psychology and Theory
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Emotional Associations with Colors:
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Colors directly influence cognitive and emotional responses. Findings from research by Tham et al. (2020) and Aaris Sherin highlighted specific emotional triggers:
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Red: Heightens attention and evokes urgency or dominance.
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Blue: Promotes calmness, focus, and trust.
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Green: Enhances creativity and fosters feelings of growth and stability.
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Pastels were linked to tranquility, while vivid hues increased excitement and engagement.
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Application of Color Theory:
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Leveraged complementary and analogous combinations to create harmonious environments.
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Integrated warm tones for emotionally charged stages and cool tones for reflective, calming spaces.
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2. Environmental Psychology
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Key Theories Explored:
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Arousal Theory: High-stimulation environments (e.g., bright lights, loud sounds) evoke intense emotional responses, while low-stimulation environments create calmness.
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Behavioral Constraint Theory: Highlighted how oppressive environments (e.g., cluttered or confined spaces) can lead to feelings of helplessness.
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Adaptation Level Theory: Demonstrated how users judge stimuli based on past experiences, guiding the design of relatable yet evocative environments.
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Ecological Theory: Showed that behavior adapts to the context of the environment, reinforcing the need for thoughtful stage designs.
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Impact of Lighting:
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Studies revealed that ambient lighting can significantly influence emotional states and cognitive functions. For instance, warm lighting in collaborative stages and stark lighting in stress-inducing stages were incorporated to amplify emotional engagement.
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3. VR-Specific Opportunities
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Emotion Tracking: VR allows real-time data capture, such as how users interact and respond emotionally to stimuli.
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Customizable Environments: Dynamic environments were emphasized, where elements like lighting and color could shift in response to players’ progress.
Application to Game Design
The findings from secondary research directly informed several critical aspects of Emotional Journey:
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Aura Design and Emotional Feedback
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Emotional states were mapped to color-based visual feedback. Players’ emotions were dynamically represented as colored auras:
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Calm (Blue/Green): Encouraged collaboration and open communication.
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Stress (Red): Signaled urgency or tension, requiring players to adjust their approach.
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Optimism (Yellow): Represented progress and positivity, motivating players to continue.
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Environmental Design Principles
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Stages were designed to align with key emotional themes:
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Tranquility: Featured cool color palettes, natural sounds, and expansive layouts to evoke calm.
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Tension: Utilized warm colors, confined spaces, and sharp contrasts to heighten urgency.
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Reflection: Combined soft pastels with diffused lighting to encourage introspection.
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Interaction Mechanics
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The interplay between environments and player actions was enhanced:
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Stressful stages require players to collaborate under pressure, reflecting behavioral constraints and arousal theories.
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Reflective stages encouraged players to modify their interactions for mutual emotional alignment.
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Dynamic Adaptations
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Lighting and environmental elements shifted dynamically based on aura changes, keeping the gameplay immersive and responsive.
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Design Process
01
Understanding the User
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We started by conducting primary research through questionnaires to gain insights into user needs and preferences. This helped us understand the importance of emotional connections, the challenges people face, and the types of social interactions that often cause anxiety.
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We also developed a detailed user persona, representing our target audience – individuals aged 18-40 who struggle with social anxieties and overthinking in social situations. This persona guided our design decisions and ensured we were catering to the specific needs and motivations of our users.
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Designing the Environments
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Informed by our research, we carefully designed a variety of emotionally-charged environments intended to evoke specific feelings in the players. These ranged from calming natural settings to more stimulating urban landscapes, each playing a crucial role in influencing player emotions and interactions.
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We considered factors such as color psychology, lighting, and spatial arrangement to create immersive and emotionally resonant spaces.
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Mapping the User Journey
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To visualize the overall flow of the game and key interactions, we created a comprehensive user journey map and storyboard. This helped us outline the different stages of the game, from the initial menu and tutorial to the various interactive environments and the final outcome screen.
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This mapping process allowed us to identify potential pain points and opportunities for enhancing the user experience.
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Visualizing Emotions
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A core element of the game was the representation of emotions through colored auras. Drawing inspiration from the concept of auras and color psychology, we developed a system where different colors dynamically reflected the player's emotional state in real-time.
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This visual feedback mechanism allowed players to gain a deeper understanding of how their interactions affected their own emotions and those of others.
Basic UI Elements
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Discussion and Conclusion
Discussion
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The Emotional Journey VR game represents a promising step towards harnessing the power of virtual reality to enhance emotional intelligence and social understanding. By providing a safe and controlled environment to explore emotional nuances, the game can positively impact individuals' emotional well-being and interpersonal skills.
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However, the project also highlights several areas for further exploration and refinement. While the core concept of using colored auras to visualize emotions is innovative, further research is needed to optimize the color palette and ensure consistent interpretation across diverse cultural backgrounds. Additionally, incorporating more nuanced emotional states and complex social interactions could enhance the game's depth and realism.
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Conclusion
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This UX case study demonstrates the application of user-centered design principles in the development of a VR game focused on emotional intelligence. By understanding user needs, conducting thorough research, and iteratively refining the design, we were able to create a prototype that showcases the potential of VR as a tool for emotional learning.
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Future iterations of the game could benefit from incorporating advanced AI techniques to personalize the experience, tailoring the content and challenges to individual users' needs and learning styles. Moreover, exploring the potential of multiplayer interactions could further enrich the social learning experience.
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Ultimately, Emotional Journey represents a significant step towards leveraging technology to foster empathy and emotional intelligence. By continuing to refine the design and expand the game's capabilities, we can create powerful tools for personal growth and social connection in the digital age.