Eye Ball: Gazing as a Dilemma in a Competitive Virtual Reality Game

In the evolving landscape of gaming technology, our research explores the integration of eye-tracking in VR games, moving beyond traditional applications. This paper presents "Eye Ball," a competitive VR game that introduces a novel gaze-based mechanic, creating strategic dilemmas in gameplay. Our approach utilizes the qualities of gaze behavior to enhance social interaction in games, offering a more immersive gaming experience. In "Eye Ball," players can generate a shield by closing their eyes, providing protection at the strategic cost of visual awareness. This mechanic challenges traditional game design, balancing the power of protection with the vulnerability of reduced situational awareness. A comparative study was conducted to examine the effects of this gaze-based dilemma. Our findings demonstrate the potential of gaze mechanics in enhancing the depth of social VR games. Our research contributes to the broader field of HCI, highlighting the potential of gaze interaction in creating immersive and socially complex gaming experiences.