From the Perspective of Information Acquisition

Similar to how we predominantly use vision to absorb external information in real life, a large portion of information in video games is also transmitted visually. This is a significant rationale for treating vision as an independent section for discussion. The game universe relays information to the players via a myriad of visual components, and following analysis and decision-making, players relay their actions back to the gaming system through input devices such as joysticks, mice, keyboards, or direct screen touches.

Vision plays a central role in the interaction between the player and the game, serving as the primary medium through which the game communicates its state, objectives, and feedback. Players interpret visual cues to understand the game environment, track progress, and make informed decisions. This continuous exchange of information between the visual display and the player’s cognitive processes is fundamental to the gaming experience, influencing everything from gameplay mechanics to narrative engagement and emotional response.

Consequently, game design, besides concentrating on mechanics, should also emphasize information transmission, with visuals serving as a quintessential case. Modern electronic games regard interface design as a somewhat autonomous position, integrating user experience studies, and have developed a proven methodology. Interface design in games is a specialized field that ensures the effective and intuitive conveyance of information to the player. It involves creating menus, HUDs (Heads-Up Displays), and other visual elements that enhance usability and engagement. By studying user experience, designers can optimize interfaces to support the game’s objectives while catering to the player’s needs, ensuring that the visual representation of information is both accessible and aesthetically pleasing. This approach not only improves the gameplay experience but also contributes to the overall satisfaction and immersion of the player in the game world.

For example, the interface employed in World of Warcraft centers on the concept of enabling swift player operations. It not only provides numerous pre-set HUD (Heads-Up Display) configurations but also permits players to craft their own customized interfaces, facilitating instant actions during gameplay. The HUD interface hovers outside the game world, visible to the player but not to the characters within it. Conversely, games such as Dead Space endeavor to equip the player with the same volume of visual information as the avatar they control in-game. This entails merging the interface with every visible aspect of the game world, aiming to drastically cut down the sensation of players feeling “detached” from the game world. Remarkably, to attain this outcome, Dead Space utilizes a variety of approaches, including the amalgamation of high-tech elements and a futuristic theme within the game, which enables the presentation of game information through holographic projections. Taking it a notch higher, given that the player’s character is a hybrid of bioengineering and specialized apparatus, the pulsating health indicators along the spine not only align with the character’s narrative but also intensify the game’s immersive qualities. Aside from the aforementioned direct information transmission, there are several fascinating aspects concerning visuals in games.

1. Guiding players to notice specific content. This actually brings us back to the issue of visual perception. The eyes can see a lot, but not all visual information is analyzed and received by the brain, especially when there is an overwhelming amount of information on the screen. Determining which information needs to be noticed by the player requires designers to incorporate cognitive principles into their designs. Apart from using direct indications (such as overlaying UI elements), there are also more natural methods, including the use of contrast (employing differences in color, brightness, or texture to highlight important elements), dynamics versus statics (moving objects tend to attract more attention than static ones), and focused lighting (utilizing light sources to illuminate crucial areas or objects).
2. The unseen space is often more alluring, fostering anticipation and curiosity. To this day, the classic game Silent Hill 2 from the PS2 remains a topic of enthusiastic discussion among gamers. Often highlighted is the masterful use of fog, which not only circumvented the PS2’s limitations in rendering 3D environments but also created an atmosphere of mysterious dread for the players. Research has shown that players spend several times more gameplay hours exploring rooms with limited light sources, such as a flashlight, in a dark setting compared to equally sized rooms that are fully visible and well-lit.
3. The player’s field of view and the difficulty level of a game. In RTS games, the Fog of War serves as both a protective element and a challenge for strategic deployment for players. Players might have attempted to use in-game features or player-created functions to dispel the Fog of War, thereby reducing the game’s difficulty. It is a simplified yet vivid simulation of real warfare: by limiting the information visible to players, it mimics the uncertainty of enemy intelligence in actual conflicts. Sending out reconnaissance units to clear the Fog of War mirrors the process of gathering information on the enemy. Meanwhile, in FPS games, different firearms are designed with varying fields of view to offer more tactical options: Sniper rifles maximize long-range vision at the cost of a significantly reduced peripheral view; other weapons rely on the player’s ability to make out distant targets within a broader, but less detailed, field of vision, where accuracy improves through skill and sensitivity adjustments. This ensures there is no universally dominant weapon choice in the game, requiring a combination of individual skill and team coordination, which adds to the game’s replayability and unpredictability – perhaps one of the most captivating aspects of gaming.