2023

Within is the final part of my thesis and is about understanding how video games are able to create such a strong feeling of immersion in its players. The deliverables for this project included an installation that consists of a CRT computer monitor with a downloaded copy of Within on it, fully designed cover art for the Within trilogy, and a 3 part process booklet documenting my thesis process. The goal of Within is to escape from the maze that your character starts in. The game begins with you lost inside of a strange hedge maze with only your flashlight to help you get out.

But what is it that makes video games so immersive? That was the question I aimed to answer with this thesis. After extensive research I narrowed it down to three parts that go into creating an immersive experience: I. Characters II. Environments III. Interaction. If all three of these conditions are met then the game has the potential to cause immersion in its player, this is the purpose of Within.