  Familiarity with audiences plays a significant role in shaping individual
performance and experience across various activities in everyday life. This
study delves into the impact of familiarity with non-playable character (NPC)
audiences on player performance and experience in virtual reality (VR)
exergames. By manipulating of NPC appearance (face and body shape) and voice
familiarity, we explored their effect on game performance, experience, and
exertion. The findings reveal that familiar NPC audiences have a positive
impact on performance, creating a more enjoyable gaming experience, and leading
players to perceive less exertion. Moreover, individuals with higher levels of
self-consciousness exhibit heightened sensitivity to the familiarity with NPC
audiences. Our results shed light on the role of familiar NPC audiences in
enhancing player experiences and provide insights for designing more engaging
and personalized VR exergame environments.
