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Moe, can I qoute a part of your post in my research paper? If so, can I refer to your real name? Thanks!

That's a really interesting thread.

Most of you talk about graphics, AI or physics especially in FPS. Immersion is not something you can explain in a few sentences. But I still try.

Immersion is when you completely forget about your surroundings and the input device.

For me it can be achieved with many things. I can easily be immersed in a puzzle game like DROD or in an abstract Pong like game, which is the case in BIT.TRIP BEAT and FLUX.

The only thing every game has in common were I get easily immersed is a great audio visual feedback or control scheme.

Battlefield:Bad Company2 for example has great graphics, no doubt about it. But when you play with a surround headset I was blown away how easily your mind can be tricked with the right amount of subtle effects in the sound department. Things that you are used to, like the same explosion sounds, the same old bear growl can easily break the immersion effect. But when it's done right, and things sound like they sound in real life and also react accordingly to you, you are one step closer to immerse the player.

Then there are games like Gran Turismo 5 that immerses you with photo realistic graphics and great controls. (steering wheel with FF required). When you 'feel' the car with every bump, slip, brake, etc... it's very easy to be immersed.

I can't disagree with anything that the previous posters said. Immersion can be achieved with many things. Sometimes even with a good story. I'd say, if a game is done right you shouldn't ask the question: "How can the player be more immersed" but "What breaks the immersion in my game?".

My personal immersion breaker are cutscenes. Valve reacted to this with Halflife and more games tried the same. Condemded: Criminal Origins is one example I can give you where it's really done right. Now there's a shift where you see first person cutscenes but you completely loose control of the character. (Call of Duty franchise) In my opinion it's just as bad as traditional cutscenes.

I hope I didn't rambled too much. I'm at work and wasn't really focused on the post but still wanted to contribute, as I love the topic.

I used to get immersed playing DAoC when participating in RVR combat. I was generally just scouting, but I had people relying on me.

Immersion in a multiplayer game requires that you rely on those around you. To do things alone in a world where you are amongst supposed allies that you never ally with... not something that I find to immerse the players.

To become immersed in a single player game I find that the story has to be something I put value in. Game play alone is not going to get the job done.

You have to actually care about the results of your actions.

[color="#CCCCCC"][font="verdana, sans-serif"][font="Arial"][color="#000000"]One of the main things I would like to know is if the artstyle of a game have an effect on immersion. It sounds logic to say that gamers get more immersed in games with a realistisc artstyle compaired to a game with a cartoon style. I don't think thats really the case. What do you guys think?[/font]
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In Understanding Comics, Scott McCloud talks about this. He says it's actually easier for a reader to identify with a character drawn in an abstract style than a character drawn in a realistic style. This is because the abstraction impels the brain to fill in the blanks. It engages your creativity, and generates a stronger intellectual link.