Research Article

USER DISCOURSE AND TRAVEL DESIRE IN GAME-BASED VR TRAVEL EXPERIENCES

Volume: 4 Number: 2 July 30, 2026
TR EN

USER DISCOURSE AND TRAVEL DESIRE IN GAME-BASED VR TRAVEL EXPERIENCES

Abstract

In game-based VR travel experiences, what kind of mental journey do users take before traveling to a destination, and to what extent does this journey shape their travel intentions? This paper seeks to answer this question by analyzing 7,372 public user reviews from Steam for VRChat, BRINK Traveler, and Blueplanet VR Explore. Comments were processed using Python-based Natural Language Processing techniques and then semi-automatically coded on a 0-3 scale in terms of VR design features (stimulus), immersion/sense of presence (organism), and expressed travel intention (reaction) based on the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) model. LDA topic modeling and interpretive netnography were additionally applied to VRChat. The findings suggest that in BRINK Traveler, and especially Blueplanet VR Explore, immersive experiential narratives emerge, reinforcing destination image and travel intention. In contrast, discourse related to VRChat emphasizes social escape and digital belonging rather than physical travel.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Tourism (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

July 30, 2026

Submission Date

May 10, 2026

Acceptance Date

July 8, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 4 Number: 2

APA
Aşkın, O. (2026). USER DISCOURSE AND TRAVEL DESIRE IN GAME-BASED VR TRAVEL EXPERIENCES. Karadeniz Turizm Araştırmaları Dergisi, 4(2), 113-133. https://izlik.org/JA28FR46MU
AMA
1.Aşkın O. USER DISCOURSE AND TRAVEL DESIRE IN GAME-BASED VR TRAVEL EXPERIENCES. KATAD. 2026;4(2):113-133. https://izlik.org/JA28FR46MU
Chicago
Aşkın, Onur. 2026. “USER DISCOURSE AND TRAVEL DESIRE IN GAME-BASED VR TRAVEL EXPERIENCES”. Karadeniz Turizm Araştırmaları Dergisi 4 (2): 113-33. https://izlik.org/JA28FR46MU.
EndNote
Aşkın O (July 1, 2026) USER DISCOURSE AND TRAVEL DESIRE IN GAME-BASED VR TRAVEL EXPERIENCES. Karadeniz Turizm Araştırmaları Dergisi 4 2 113–133.
IEEE
[1]O. Aşkın, “USER DISCOURSE AND TRAVEL DESIRE IN GAME-BASED VR TRAVEL EXPERIENCES”, KATAD, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 113–133, July 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA28FR46MU
ISNAD
Aşkın, Onur. “USER DISCOURSE AND TRAVEL DESIRE IN GAME-BASED VR TRAVEL EXPERIENCES”. Karadeniz Turizm Araştırmaları Dergisi 4/2 (July 1, 2026): 113-133. https://izlik.org/JA28FR46MU.
JAMA
1.Aşkın O. USER DISCOURSE AND TRAVEL DESIRE IN GAME-BASED VR TRAVEL EXPERIENCES. KATAD. 2026;4:113–133.
MLA
Aşkın, Onur. “USER DISCOURSE AND TRAVEL DESIRE IN GAME-BASED VR TRAVEL EXPERIENCES”. Karadeniz Turizm Araştırmaları Dergisi, vol. 4, no. 2, July 2026, pp. 113-3, https://izlik.org/JA28FR46MU.
Vancouver
1.Onur Aşkın. USER DISCOURSE AND TRAVEL DESIRE IN GAME-BASED VR TRAVEL EXPERIENCES. KATAD [Internet]. 2026 Jul. 1;4(2):113-3. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA28FR46MU

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