What is the player experience?

The player experience - what the player goes through throughout the game, what they are feeling and thinking. It can be as simple as gamified mechanics in gamification; a games-based learning class; a simulation; or a serious game. The player experience dictates how our creation, our game, is received by our users.

The essential experience of my game - Providing the experience of immersion as a tool for emotional regulation through the use of effective sound design and stunning visuals.

The target audience - students and adults practicing their careers (aged 16+) who are in need of a space that is accessible in their place of study/work, that provides them with the means to regulate their stress, anxieties and come out feeling refreshed.

The experience that I want the players to have is a journey of emotion; of mental and physical regulation. They will enter the game feeling uneasy, stressed or anxious and by the time they have finished the game, their mood will have improved and they will have a positive outlook to go back to their tasks of the day.

What are the players feelings before starting the game?

The player will be experiencing the mental and physical symptoms of stress and anxiety which could be any that follow:

• Quickened heart rate
• Quickened breathing rate
• High Blood pressure
• Negative thoughts
• Fear of judgement

What methods/techniques can be used to reduce these feelings?

• Steady/guided breathing- this could be visualised in the form of pulsing colours or shapes or through rhythmic sound that encourages the player to breathe in sync.
• Affirmations - remind yourself who you are, what you are capable of, what you have achieved and what your ambitions are. Connect with things that bring you happiness.
• Movement - moving around can help in many ways, such as increasing blood flow to steady blood pressure, provide a method of distraction and help to control your breathing.