Immersive Experiments …and How Minetest Can Enable It

No ratings

Presented at HICSS 2025 by

Vignette experiments have been used to study information systems (IS) for years to create immersive experiences in experimental settings. However, the rise of sandbox video games, exemplified by Minetest, presents a unique opportunity to improve the external validity of experiments. In this study, we engaged 128 participants in an experiment in which we compared the traditional text-based vignette format with an equivalent scenario created in Minetest. Our results indicate that the video game-based experiment provides a significantly more immersive experience, due to a greater sense of presence among participants and higher interactivity, compared to a traditional vignette experiment. Our research highlights the potential of sandbox video games as a more advanced platform for conducting experiments in IS, providing researchers with a novel and engaging environment to explore user interactions. As we continue to push the boundaries of IS research, this work opens up exciting avenues for future experimentation and investigation.