Simulation & Gaming 41(5) 724–742 © 2010 SAGE Publications Reprints and permission: http://www. sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1046878110365515 http://sg.sagepub.com Effects of Third Person Perspective on Affective Appraisal and Engagement: Findings From SECOND LIFE Ellen L. Schuurink 2 and Alexander Toet 1 Abstract This study investigates the influence of a first-person perspective (1PP) and a third- person perspective (3PP), respectively, on the affective appraisal and on the user engagement of a three-dimensional virtual environment in SECOND LIFE. Partici- pants explored the environment while searching for five targets during a limited time span, using either a 1PP or a 3PP. No significant overall effect was found for viewing perspective on the appraisal of the three-dimensional virtual environment on the dimensions of arousal and valence. However, a 3PP yields more perceived control over the avatar and the events, which is a requirement for engagement.Analysis of the performance on the search task shows that participants using a 3PP find more objects but also need more time to find them.The present results suggest that a 3PP conveys a more distinct impression of the environment, thereby increasing engagement, and probably induces a different viewing strategy. Hence, a 3PP appears preferable for simulation and training applications in which the correct assessment of the affective properties of an environment is essential. Keywords affective appraisal, engagement, first-person perspective (1PP), human-computer inter- action, perceived control, SECOND LIFE, simulation; third-person perspective (3PP), three-dimensional virtual environment, user engagement, viewing perspective, viewing strategy, virtual environment (VE), virtual worlds (VWs) 1 TNO Human Factors, Soesterberg, Netherlands 2 ITpreneurs CSI b.v., Rotterdam, Netherlands Corresponding Author: Alexander Toet, TNO Human Factors, PO Box 23, Soesterberg, Netherlands Email: lextoet@gmail.com