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@article{186836,
        author = {DEVRAJ SALVI},
        title = {Raya – The Harbinger of Fear: Redefining Psychological Engagement in Tactical Shooters},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2025},
        volume = {12},
        number = {6},
        pages = {2838-2846},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=186836},
        abstract = {In the competitive realm of tactical first-person shooters, agent-based gameplay defines the pacing, strategic variety, and psychological flow of matches. While most agents in contemporary games like Valorant focus on utility, recon, or brute force, few explore emotional manipulation as a functional mechanic. This research presents the design and narrative framework of Raya, an original Initiator-class agent who introduces fear-based disruption into competitive FPS gameplay. Raya’s abilities are built around psychological interference manipulating enemy perception, reaction time, and combat confidence. By integrating supernatural lore with vision-based mechanics, Raya aims to shift how players interpret spatial control and engagement pressure. Through this case study, we investigate how emotion can be used not only for immersion but also as a precise, mechanical influence in player-versus-player design.},
        keywords = {Game Design, Valorant, Fear Mechanics, FPS, Raya, Psychological Gameplay, Agent Design Raya the Harbinger of Fear: A Game Design Thesis},
        month = {November},
        }