Immersion in Digital Games - Part One - Introduction

For my critical studies project at university, I am looking into immersion in digital games. So firstly, what is immersion?

Well, the dictionary definition of immersion often returns a few results regarding baptism and being submerged in water. Whilst the description of being submerged in water could be likened to the immersion experience felt while playing a game, it is best to focus on these dictionary definitions . . .

Immersion
noun
1. an act or instance of immersing.
2. state of being immersed.
3. state of being deeply engaged or involved; absorption.

And here is my personal description of what immersion is regarding the playing and participation of a digital games . . .

To be immersed in a game is to be totally absorbed in it. When the game player is experiencing deep immersion, nothing else outside the game matters.

So, how can games immerse the player? I believe that different types of games have the power to immerse the player in different ways. I feel that the genre of a game plays an important part in the type of immersion that the player will feel. For example, immersion in a fast-paced shooter such as the arcade classic Time Crisis will have noticeable differences in the immersion that it can create when compared to the immersing effects of a slower paced strategy type game such as The Sims. I also believe that being immersed in a game can involve losing your sense of time, losing awareness of your surroundings and becoming emotionally involved in the game. Games that are strongly story driven tend to employ many of the same techniques as successful novels and movies. Exciting storytelling and strong, believable characters can help immerse the player into forgetting the world around them as their attention becomes fully concentrated on the game they are playing. If a game is set within its own fantasy world that has been designed with great care, attention to detail and believability then it is possible for the player to experience immersion on a very strong level, forgetting about their own reality momentarily.

This post is really just a short and brief introduction to my views on immersion in digital games. In the near future I plan to look into subjects such as the different kinds of immersion and the real world and social factors that can effect the level of immersion that the game player feels.