Below is a list of attributes of video games that I think affect immersion I pulled from confirmed Destiny attributes, earlier threads, reddit, and my own experiences. What's most important to you? Can you think of any others? - Lore / Backstory - Character Customization - Public Events - Weather / Time of Day / Seasons - Music (Marty and Michael ear porn) - Emotional Bond (family, pet, Ghost) - Non-Combat Abilities (job, crafting, bartering) - [url=http://www.bungie.net/7_Social-body-movement-realism-and-world-immersion/en/Forum/Post?id=61744189#referred-Immersion]Body Language[/url] - Populated Areas (NPCs in city, wildlife in... the wild) - [url=http://www.bungie.net/7_Living-Quarters-and-interactions-within-it/en/Forum/Post?id=63028679#referred-Immersion]Homesteads[/url] - [url=http://www.bungie.net/7_Kinect-20-and-Destiny-perfect-marriage/en/Forum/Post?id=61161155#referred-Immersion]Kinect[/url] / [url=http://www.bungie.net/7_Destiny-with-the-Oculus-Rift/en/Forum/Post?id=60314944#referred-Immersion]Oculus Rift[/url] Support - Barriers (invisible walls, locked doors) - NPC AI (illogical decision making, ignorant of your abilities or renown, repetitive dialogue) - Loading Time Between Areas (smooth transitions from cinema to gameplay, through doors) - HUDs (obtrusive vs. minimalist) - Proximity Voice - Festivals (sell special limited weapons, armor, non-combat items) - Bungie Controlled NPCs - Character Inventory (realistic weight, volume of items, normal clothes) - Basic Needs (character need to drink, sleep, eat) - Physical Effects Over Time (muscle growth, age) - Invasions (enemies in normal safe areas with Bungie controlled enemies) - View Modes (first-person, movie mode like GTA) - Realistic Character Names (SpankyLugNuts vs. Dartaniun) [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immersion_(virtual_reality)]Immersion[/url] is incredibly important to me in a video game, and it's what I look forward to most in Destiny. It's the feeling of being transported from the here and now, and into a fantasy where I am a part of something incredibly epic. Typically, the most immersed I get is from reading a book or watching a movie since these forms of narratives have been cut, edited, polished, and most importantly scripted to the extent that what is left should not remind the participant of reality. I think games (especially an online, seemingly open world game like Destiny) have a harder time keeping players immersed due to having to create an entire world that lives and reacts like we'd expect a "real" fantasy world to, even with a near limitless number of situations players can dream up.