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.
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One of the greatest immersion factors for myself, is definitely the music. Which luckily for us, is not something we'll have to worry about seeing as the Legendary Marty O' Donnel is composing it!