This preliminary study investigated user experiences in VR horror games, highlighting fear-triggering and gender-based differences in perception. By utilizing a scientifically validated and specially designed questionnaire, we successfully collected questionnaire data from 23 subjects for an early empirical study of fear induction in a virtual reality gaming environment. The early findings suggest that visual restrictions and ambient sound-enhanced realism may be more effective in intensifying the fear experience. Participants exhibited a tendency to avoid playing alone or during nighttime, underscoring the significant psychological impact of VR horror games. The study also revealed a distinct gender difference in fear perception, with female participants exhibiting a higher sensitivity to fear stimuli. However, the preference for different types of horror games was not solely dominated by males; it varied depending on factors such as the game's pace, its objectives, and the nature of the fear stimulant.

翻译：本项初步研究探讨了虚拟现实恐怖游戏中的用户体验，重点关注恐惧触发因素及基于性别的感知差异。通过采用经科学验证的专门设计问卷，我们成功收集了23名被试的问卷数据，以开展虚拟现实游戏环境中恐惧诱导的早期实证研究。初步发现表明，视觉限制与环境音效增强的真实感可能更有效地强化恐惧体验。被试表现出回避独自游戏或夜间游戏的倾向，凸显了虚拟现实恐怖游戏显著的心理影响。研究还揭示了恐惧感知中明显的性别差异，女性被试对恐惧刺激表现出更高的敏感性。然而，不同类型恐怖游戏的偏好并非仅由男性主导，而是取决于游戏节奏、目标及恐惧刺激性质等因素。