EmotionBike: A Study of Provoking Emotions in Cycling Exergames

This study investigates the efficacy of game design elements in provoking specific, real-time emotional responses within cycling exergames. The research aims to determine whether tailored gameplay events can elicit measurable facial expressions, thereby providing a framework for more immersive and personalized interactive experiences. By integrating physical exertion with affective computing, the study explores how game mechanics—such as obstacles, rewards, and environmental shifts—influence player engagement and emotional states.

The experimental methodology involved eleven participants, aged 19 to 41, who engaged with a custom-built cycling controller and a 3D first-person game featuring five distinct levels. Researchers utilized the Computer Expression Recognition Toolbox (CERT) to analyze facial expressions captured via high-definition video, correlating these expressions with specific in-game events. Participants also completed the Big Five personality test and self-assessment questionnaires to provide context for their emotional reactions. The study focused on eight discrete emotion categories, including joy, surprise, fear, and sadness.

Key findings indicate that specific game elements, such as hitting obstacles or navigating jumps, successfully triggered intended emotional responses in a majority of subjects. For instance, 91% of participants displayed joy during falling events, while 82% exhibited joy upon hitting targets. However, the study also revealed significant individual variance; some events, such as jump scares, produced highly diverse emotional outcomes that did not always align with self-reported feelings. Furthermore, the data suggest that extroverted players tended to exhibit higher intensity in their emotional expressions. The research concludes that while game design can effectively guide player emotions, individual personality traits and prior gaming experience significantly influence the intensity and type of response, suggesting that future exergame development should account for these user-specific variables to optimize engagement.