Endless Runner Game in Virtual Reality Controlled by a Self-paced Brain-Computer Interface Based on EEG and Motor Imagery

A prototype system for an endless runner game controlled by a self-paced brain-computer interface (BCI) based on electroencephalography (EEG) and motor imagery (MI) is presented. In self-paced BCI systems, brain activity can be distinguished between control and non-control states, allowing the user to continuously engage with the application. The continuous nature of the system enhances the user experience and broadens the experimental setting to more real-world applications. Additionally, metrics for assessing the player’s performance during the endless runner game are introduced, including the number of collected coins, distance from the coins, and the efficiency of the avatar’s path. The system was evaluated on six subjects with varying levels of experience with MI-BCI. The results demonstrated that the proposed system can be used feasibly with as few as three calibration runs and a highly wearable low-density (8-channel) EEG cap. Furthermore, participants familiar with MI were observed to have better calibration sessions, and subsequently exhibited greater control of the endless runner game.