ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on a particular kind of experiential rhetoric that looks at how modal consonance is used to create a sense of immersion—a highly contentious term—in players and ultimately to construct a message of 'realism'—another highly contentious term. It examines how the convergence of modes can be used to phenomenologically persuade players to believe that they are in 'real' environments. The chapter briefly discusses the concept of 'immersion,' a commonly used term to describe the kind of phenomenological experience. Other consonant modes, such as haptics, procedurality, text, and even olfaction can contribute to a sense of immersion. The chapter examines the impact of modal consonance on the experiential phenomenon of immersion and attempts to create 'realism.' It focuses largely on virtual reality (VR) applications both within and on the boundaries of videogames since VR has come with the promise of realism.
