Echolocation

As a navigation method in immersive games, echolocation visualises how sound constructs the world visually around the player before plunging them back into darkness.

Origins

Real world animals use echolocation to navigate the world, even in darkness, by emitting sounds and listening to the echoes that return from objects near them. It has been used as a navigation mechanic in a number of video games. In media such as VR, it is an effective way of immersing the user in an alien form of perception, while navigating a virtual space.

Immersive works titles using Echolocation

Notes on Blindness http://cefima.org/wiki/Notes_on_Blindness

Blind, "A narrative-driven psychological thriller that isn’t designed so much to scare as it is puzzle." https://www.vrfocus.com/2018/08/preview-blind-finds-the-right-path-in-the-darkness/

Stifled https://uploadvr.com/hands-on-stifled-listen/

Scanner Sombre https://uploadvr.com/beautiful-adventure-scanner-sombre-wi…/

Traditional video games using Echolocation

Perception https://killscreen.com/articles/perception-vows-enhance-your-vision-using-echolocation/

Bat Simmulator https://killscreen.com/articles/bat-simulator-realizes-echolocation-in-tron-like-neon/

Aliens vs Predator 2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aliens_versus_Predator_2

The Last of Us