Motion Controllers, Sound, and Music in Video Games: State of the Art and Research Perspectives

This chapter is dedicated to the use of motion-sensing controllers in video games, with particular attention to gameplay mechanics that link body movement, sound, an music. First, we present a review of the state of the art. This includes an overview of recent motion controllers describing the different motion-sensing technologies employed and the implications such technologies have on game design and gameplay. This is followed by a set of examples of relationships between motion control, sound, music, and gameplay mechanics in recent video games. Secondly, we present a survey on recent research in expressive movement analysis and motion-based interaction, introducing the concepts of motion descriptor and parameter mapping. We then report on two serious games designed for children affected by autism using full-body motion capture and emotion recognition, and studies of player engagement in motion-controlled video games. In light of the interdisciplinary research presented, we finally discuss perspectives for motion-based game design.