Urban Exergames: How Architects and Serious Gaming Researchers Collaborate on the Design of Digital Games that Make You Move

Knöll, Martin; Dutz, Tim; Hardy, Sandro; Göbel, Stefan

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-54816-1_11

Cited by 17 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Further, elements such as challenges, badges, or rank lists with family, friends, or a community are used to motivate the users of an activity tracker to perform a healthy amount of daily physical activity [6-8]. Recently, an additional trend occurred in augmented reality exergames, also referred to as urban exergames [9], which incorporate real-life physical activity into their game concept. Urban exergames are characterized by a set of criteria: the player is required to be physically active, the game is played in an urban environment, it runs on mobile phones, and makes use of the built-in mobile phone sensors [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, an additional trend occurred in augmented reality exergames, also referred to as urban exergames [ 9 ], which incorporate real-life physical activity into their game concept. Urban exergames are characterized by a set of criteria: the player is required to be physically active, the game is played in an urban environment, it runs on mobile phones, and makes use of the built-in mobile phone sensors [ 9 ]. Medical and public health communities have discussed the potential of these games with regard to their influence on higher levels of sustainable physical activity to achieve health benefits [ 10 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Who Is Still Playing Pokémon Go? A Web-Based Survey

Rasche¹,

Schlomann²,

Mertens³

2017

JMIR Serious Games

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BackgroundPoor physical activity is one of the major health care problems in Western civilizations. Various digital gadgets aiming to increase physical activity, such as activity trackers or fitness apps, have been introduced over recent years. The newest products are serious games that incorporate real-life physical activity into their game concept. Recent studies have shown that such games increase the physical activity of their users over the short term.ObjectiveIn this study, we investigated the motivational effects of the digital game “Pokémon Go” leading to continued use or abandonment of the game. The aim of the study was to determine aspects that motivate individuals to play augmented reality exergames and how this motivation can be used to strengthen the initial interest in physical activity.MethodsA total of 199 participants completed an open self-selected Web-based survey. On the basis of their self-indicated assignment to one of three predefined user groups (active, former, and nonuser of Pokémon Go), participants answered various questions regarding game experience, physical activity, motivation, and personality as measured by the Big Five Inventory.ResultsIn total, 81 active, 56 former, and 62 nonusers of Pokémon Go were recruited. When asked about the times they perform physical activity, active users stated that they were less physically active in general than former and nonusers. However, based on a subjective rating, active users were more motivated to be physically active due to playing Pokémon Go. Motivational aspects differed for active and former users, whereas fan status was the same within both groups. Active users are more motivated by features directly related to Pokémon, such as catching all possible Pokémon and reaching higher levels, whereas former users stress the importance of general game quality, such as better augmented reality and more challenges in the game. Personality did not affect whether a person started to play Pokémon Go nor their abandonment of the game.ConclusionsThe results show various motivating elements that should be incorporated into augmented reality exergames based on the game Pokémon Go. We identified different user types for whom different features of the game contribute to maintained motivation or abandonment. Our results show aspects that augmented reality exergame designers should keep in mind to encourage individuals to start playing their game and facilitate long-term user engagement, resulting in a greater interest in physical activity.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Who Is Still Playing Pokémon Go? A Web-Based Survey

Rasche¹,

Schlomann²,

Mertens³

2017

JMIR Serious Games

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“…More importantly, they should be able to choose between indoor and outdoor locations and for individual preferences. After informing the game design, further research is needed to assess locations where adolescents actually play the mobile exergame [ 62 , 63 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mobile Exergaming in Adolescents’ Everyday Life—Contextual Design of Where, When, with Whom, and How: The SmartLife Case

Schwarz

DeSmet

Cardon

et al. 2018

IJERPH

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Exergames, more specifically console-based exergames, are generally enjoyed by adolescents and known to increase physical activity. Nevertheless, they have a reduced usage over time and demonstrate little effectiveness over the long term. In order to increase playing time, mobile exergames may increase potential playing time, but need to be engaging and integrated in everyday life. The goal of the present study was to examine the context of gameplay for mobile exergaming in adolescents’ everyday life to inform game design and the integration of gameplay into everyday life. Eight focus groups were conducted with 49 Flemish adolescents (11 to 17 years of age). The focus groups were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed by means of thematic analysis via Nvivo 11 software (QSR International Pty Ltd., Victoria, Australia). The adolescents indicated leisure time and travel time to and from school as suitable timeframes for playing a mobile exergame. Outdoor gameplay should be restricted to the personal living environment of adolescents. Besides outdoor locations, the game should also be adaptable to at-home activities. Activities could vary from running outside to fitness exercises inside. Furthermore, the social context of the game was important, e.g., playing in teams or meeting at (virtual) meeting points. Physical activity tracking via smart clothing was identified as a motivator for gameplay. By means of this study, game developers may be better equipped to develop mobile exergames that embed gameplay in adolescents’ everyday life.

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“…And finally, physical activity and sedentary behavior is also influenced by environmental factors. So far, little context information has been used in exergames [16].…”

Section: Related Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

SmartLife smart clothing gamification to promote energy-related behaviours among adolescents

Costa

Oliveira

Grilo

et al. 2017

2017 International Conference on Engineering, Technology and Innovation (ICE/ITMC)

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Inactivity and high sedentary behavior among adolescents are main societal problems. Unhealthy lifestyles place a large burden on society and promoting healthy lifestyles is thus key for health, wellness and economic prosperity. These noncommunicable diseases and unhealthy lifestyles furthermore occur more often among lower socioeconomic groups, which indicates a need for healthy lifestyle promotion programs to help reduce health inequalities and improve social inclusion. The SmartLife project aims to create a mobile game that requires lower body movement, and is personalized by physiological feedback measured by smart textiles. Personalization via smart textiles can present a game challenge achievable for the current fitness level of the player and can adjust this based on activity levels during game play. This approach can improve current exergames to achieve a higher level of intensity in physical activity, needed to create a health impact, and can do so considering what is achievable for the person and hence reduce drop-out and injury risks.

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Urban Exergames: How Architects and Serious Gaming Researchers Collaborate on the Design of Digital Games that Make You Move

Cited by 17 publications

References 12 publications

Who Is Still Playing Pokémon Go? A Web-Based Survey

Who Is Still Playing Pokémon Go? A Web-Based Survey

Mobile Exergaming in Adolescents’ Everyday Life—Contextual Design of Where, When, with Whom, and How: The SmartLife Case

SmartLife smart clothing gamification to promote energy-related behaviours among adolescents

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