Virtually Connected in a Multiverse of Madness?—Perceptions of Gaming, Animation, and Metaverse

Few studies analyze what are the common representations of the metaverse. Regarding what has been said about this concept, our research aims to verify how adults perceive and represent the metaverse. We carried out a study with focus groups, having as participants Portuguese adults all considered ha...

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Main Authors: Abílio Oliveira, Mónica Cruz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-07-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/15/8573
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author Abílio Oliveira
Mónica Cruz
author_facet Abílio Oliveira
Mónica Cruz
author_sort Abílio Oliveira
collection DOAJ
description Few studies analyze what are the common representations of the metaverse. Regarding what has been said about this concept, our research aims to verify how adults perceive and represent the metaverse. We carried out a study with focus groups, having as participants Portuguese adults all considered habitual gamers (or users of digital games). The objectives for this study were seven: verify how the metaverse is being represented and characterized; identify which technologies stimulate the immersion experience; identify the main dimensions that influence the acceptance of the metaverse concept; understand the perceptions of the metaverse and virtual reality regarding socialization and wellbeing; verify the perceptions of a gamer’s daily life regarding the metaverse, virtual reality, and gaming concepts; understand the impact of social representations on the gaming concept; and to understand the perceived role of animation regarding the metaverse, virtual reality, and gaming concepts. Our results reveal a common understanding of the metaverse, despite some confusion about this concept. We also verified the high importance of wellbeing and social dimensions in metaverse immersive experiences provided by technology or gaming characteristics. This exploratory study gave us essential findings about the perceptions of the metaverse and a deep understanding of the relations between the metaverse, virtual reality, animation, and gaming.
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spelling doaj.art-3e437c145c91433095a6c3a74ae3a1f32023-11-18T22:34:41ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172023-07-011315857310.3390/app13158573Virtually Connected in a Multiverse of Madness?—Perceptions of Gaming, Animation, and MetaverseAbílio Oliveira0Mónica Cruz1Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), ISTAR-IUL, 1649-026 Lisboa, PortugalInstituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), ISTAR-IUL, 1649-026 Lisboa, PortugalFew studies analyze what are the common representations of the metaverse. Regarding what has been said about this concept, our research aims to verify how adults perceive and represent the metaverse. We carried out a study with focus groups, having as participants Portuguese adults all considered habitual gamers (or users of digital games). The objectives for this study were seven: verify how the metaverse is being represented and characterized; identify which technologies stimulate the immersion experience; identify the main dimensions that influence the acceptance of the metaverse concept; understand the perceptions of the metaverse and virtual reality regarding socialization and wellbeing; verify the perceptions of a gamer’s daily life regarding the metaverse, virtual reality, and gaming concepts; understand the impact of social representations on the gaming concept; and to understand the perceived role of animation regarding the metaverse, virtual reality, and gaming concepts. Our results reveal a common understanding of the metaverse, despite some confusion about this concept. We also verified the high importance of wellbeing and social dimensions in metaverse immersive experiences provided by technology or gaming characteristics. This exploratory study gave us essential findings about the perceptions of the metaverse and a deep understanding of the relations between the metaverse, virtual reality, animation, and gaming.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/15/8573metaversevirtual realityanimationdigital gamesgamingqualitative research
spellingShingle Abílio Oliveira
Mónica Cruz
Virtually Connected in a Multiverse of Madness?—Perceptions of Gaming, Animation, and Metaverse
Applied Sciences
metaverse
virtual reality
animation
digital games
gaming
qualitative research
title Virtually Connected in a Multiverse of Madness?—Perceptions of Gaming, Animation, and Metaverse
title_full Virtually Connected in a Multiverse of Madness?—Perceptions of Gaming, Animation, and Metaverse
title_fullStr Virtually Connected in a Multiverse of Madness?—Perceptions of Gaming, Animation, and Metaverse
title_full_unstemmed Virtually Connected in a Multiverse of Madness?—Perceptions of Gaming, Animation, and Metaverse
title_short Virtually Connected in a Multiverse of Madness?—Perceptions of Gaming, Animation, and Metaverse
title_sort virtually connected in a multiverse of madness perceptions of gaming animation and metaverse
topic metaverse
virtual reality
animation
digital games
gaming
qualitative research
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/15/8573
work_keys_str_mv AT abiliooliveira virtuallyconnectedinamultiverseofmadnessperceptionsofgaminganimationandmetaverse
AT monicacruz virtuallyconnectedinamultiverseofmadnessperceptionsofgaminganimationandmetaverse