Perceived Game Realism: A Test of Three Alternative Models

Abstract

Perceived realism is considered a key concept in explaining the mental processing of media messages and the societal impact of media. Despite its importance, little is known about its conceptualization and dimensional structure, especially with regard to digital games. The aim of this study was to test a six-factor model of perceived game realism comprised of simulational realism, freedom of choice, perceptual pervasiveness, social realism, authenticity, and character involvement and to assess it against an alternative single- and five-factor model. Data were collected from 380 male digital game users who judged the realism of the first-person shooter Half-Life 2 based upon their previous experience with the game. Confirmatory factor analysis was applied to investigate which model fits the data best. The results support the six-factor model over the single- and five-factor solutions. The study contributes to our knowledge of perceived game realism by further developing its conceptualization and measurement.

MMORPG Escapism Predicts Decreased Well-Being: Examination of Gaming Time, Game Realism Beliefs, and Online Social Support for Offline Problems

“…We found that escapism predicted more time spent within the virtual environment and a stronger belief that the MMORPG environment is as realistic as the real world. This finding adds to the emerging literature on perceived realism of MMORPGs 8,20 and corresponds with telepresence as a related construct. 19,31 Most importantly, it indicates that perceived realism can be related to a specific motivational factor in addition to the characteristics of the game per se.…”

“…In general, perceived realism is one of the least studied aspects of gaming. 8 There are, however, concepts within the domain of virtual reality 15 and simulator ergonomics 16 that suggest how MMORPGs might facilitate realistic experiences. For instance, besides visual fidelity, 17 MMORPGs can promote the experience of being present in a virtual environment by providing an engaging background story 18 or opportunities to communicate and cooperate with other individuals.…”

“…5,6 To date, research on the mechanisms accounting for the detrimental effects of MMORPG escapism has been mostly concerned with specific factors that are analyzed separately. [7][8][9] In the present study, we focus on several potential mediators (gaming time, 7 perceived game realism, 8 and social support 9 ) that could be integrated into a single explanatory model.…”

The enjoyment of shooting games: Exploring the role of perceived realism

“…Several scholars have suggested to include a range of dimensions of perceived game realism, including virtual experience (Popova, 2010), behavioral realism (Breuer, Festl & Quandt, 2012), and simulational realism (Ribbens & Malliet, 2010). These studies indicate that interactivity is an important factor to take into account when talking about perceived game realism, as players are able to make various realism judgements during a play session (Ribbens, 2013b).…”

Evoking Interactivity: Film and Videogame Intermediality Since the 1980s

“…From Pac Man (Midway, 1980) to Grand Theft Auto (Rockstar Games, 1997-2013), gaming has gained a level of mainstream engagement that has resulted in particular games and characters becoming reference points for popular culture in a way previously seen with iconic film and literature. How film has dealt with this growing popularity is particularly fascinating, revealing a great deal about how reproducing elements of the videogame form constitutes part of a strategy to remain relevant and compete for attention in an increasingly crowded media marketplace.…”