Designing a narrative-based audio only 3D game engine

Immersing players in believable and engaging virtual environments is a common goal for many interactive computer games. While PC-based audio only games set in virtual worlds have traditionally been developed for blind players, new technology will soon create a market for audio only games aimed at a mass audience. We propose a framework for authoring interactive narrative-based audio only adventure games set in 3D virtual environments. Our work builds on several years of research into audio only applications for sight impaired users, augmented reality systems and human-computer interaction studies. We argue that a simple user interface enhances both immersion and entertainment value, making audio only games practical for mobile computing. Novel features of our system include real-time gameplay and support for multiple players. We also describe a software architecture for creating audio only games, the current implementation of which uses low-cost existing PC-based hardware and software...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2005
• Where: ACMACE
• Authors: Timothy Roden, Ian Parberry
• Keywords: ACMACE 2005, Engaging Virtual Environments, PC-based Audio, Virtual Environment