Assessing Empathy Across Game Fidelity Levels: A Case Study of 3D and Text-Based Versions of Brukel

Abstract

This study investigates how different levels of game fidelity impact player empathy. To examine the impact of video game fidelity on empathy outcomes, a high-fidelity 3D version of Brukel, a critically recognized 3D video game, was compared with a low- fidelity text-based adaptation. Forty-two participants were recruited for a between- subjects study, and empathy was measured using the State Empathy Scale. In comparing the two versions of the game, the results indicate limited evidence for equivalence in affective and associative empathy and moderate evidence for equivalence in cognitive empathy. These findings suggest that developers creating empathy-focused games may achieve similar outcomes regardless of the visual fidelity of their game - text-based game creation software such as Twine may offer a cost- effective and time-efficient alternative to 3D development. This holds significant potential for expanding the accessibility of creating and testing empathy-driven games, particularly for independent developers or those with limited resources. In addition, it highlights the potential of using Twine as a prototyping tool for empathy in video games.