Bring Me That Horizon

This chapter explores the horizon: that is, it introduces the idea of intromersion by defining it against the existence of an illusory horizon, one that invites movement within a virtual space. The chapter connects the idea of intromersion with the phenomenological concept of the lebenswelt. To contrast this, the chapter introduces the concept of the dollhouse effect, that is, the experience of playing a game through a window rather than a portal, and the effect this has on identification with the avatar. This chapter introduces the idea of intromersion by focusing on the presence of the horizon in virtual game environments: the horizon exists but cannot be reached and as such ties in to the player’s ability to move inside this world. This movement defines the experience in the game world as one of lebenswelt , or a sensory experience into a virtual world. The ability to move inside the game-world is contrasted by the use of a game window and margins, which prompt the dollhouse effect. The sensory experience of the game is furthermore affected by the type of avatar present in the lebenswelt : a discussion of agents versus surrogates.