Simulating auditory hallucinations in a video game: Three prototype mechanisms

Abstract

In previous work the authors have proposed the concept of 'ASC Simulation1: including audio-visual installations and experiences, as well as interactive video game systems, which simulate altered states of consciousness (ASCs) such as dreams and hallucinations. Building on the discussion of the authors' previous paper, where a large-scale qualitative study explored the changes to auditory perception that users of various intoxicating substances report, here the authors present three prototype audio mechanisms for simulating hallucinations in a video game. These were designed in the Unity video game engine as an early proof-of-concept. The first mechanism simulates 'selective auditory attention' to different sound sources, by attenuating the amplitude of unattended sources. The second simulates 'enhanced sounds', by adjusting perceived brightness through filtering. The third simulates 'spatial disruptions' to perception, by dislocating sound sources from their virtual acoustic origin in 3D-space, causing them to move in oscillations around a central location. In terms of programming structure, these mechanisms are designed using scripts that are attached to the collection of assets that make up the player character, and in future developments of this type of work we foresee a more advanced, standardised interface that models the senses, emotions and state of consciousness of player avatars.