iCat, the chess player: the influence of embodiment in the enjoyment of a game

Abstract

This paper presents an experiment that evaluates and compares the user enjoyment when playing a game of chess in two situations: against a physically embodied robotic agent and against a virtually embodied agent, displayed on screen. The results of the study suggest that embodiment has implications on user enjoyment, as the experience against a robotic agent was classified as more enjoyable than against a virtually embodied agent.