Spatial Presence and Emotions during Video Game Playing: Does It Matter with Whom You Play?

The authors examined whether the nature of the opponent (computer, friend, or stranger) influences Spatial Presence, emotional responses, and threat and challenge appraisals when playing video games. In a within-subjects design, participants played two different video games against a computer, a friend, and a stranger. In addition to self-report ratings, cardiac interbeat intervals (IBIs) were measured to index physiological arousal. When compared to playing against a computer, playing against another human elicited higher Spatial Presence, engagement, anticipated threat, post-game challenge appraisals, and physiological arousal, as well as more positively valenced emotional responses. In addition, playing against a friend elicited greater Spatial Presence, engagement, and selfreported and physiological arousal compared to playing against a stranger. The nature of the opponent influences Spatial Presence when playing video games, possibly through the mediating influence on arousal and attentional processes. Keywords--Spatial Presence, emotions, social relationships, interbeat interval, video games.