Xbox team made a research on how to make spiders in Grounded less scary, Obsidian now relies heavily on this study.

Spiders are often the object of disgust and terror, both inside and outside of video games. In fact, it would not be uncommon for some of the most uncomfortable passages in certain titles to cross your mind as you read that first line, and Obsidian is aware of this, so he conducted a study to learn more about the nature of arachnophobia. and thus provide a more flexible experience with his next survival adventure, Grounded, which debuts tomorrow and puts you in the shoes of a tiny human, lost in a backyard, with the threats that entails.

It would provide an alternative to those suffering from arachnophobia

We knew for some time now that one of the most recurring dangers in the world of Grounded will be arachnids, and Obsidian confirmed, at the time, that it would provide an alternative to those suffering from arachnophobia. Well, just yesterday, the studio delved into how this configuration will work.

In essence, Obsidian worked closely with the Xbox research arm to gain a deep understanding of the nature of arachnophobia. “During their study, fear and disgust increased in all groups surveyed, as spider textures, eyes, and audio effects were added,” Xbox revealed. “The Xbox Research results helped determine the best way for spiders to be part of the game by allowing players to make adjustments to the appearance of these arthropods, depending on their degree of phobia.”

Not only that, but players will be able to limit the sound effects that spiders produce and between them, the change to appearance and acoustic adjustment, should allow you to enjoy the game, even if the spiders are especially repugnant to the user.

Xbox Research is the branch that studies the scientific angle of video games, the behavior of gamers, the psychology behind design, games and classifications, games and children, and precisely, the improvement of video game narratives, through research, just to mention some of its many fields of operation. It is, however, one of the first times that Microsoft has put this branch on the showcase for its contribution with a title.

Grounded debuts tomorrow on Xbox Game Preview, on Xbox One via Xbox Game Pass, and on PC via Steam Early Access. It will be a survival game, located in a backyard, with spiders, bees, mites, mantis and catarinas, as part of the fauna and mechanics.

Source: 3DJuegos

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