Designing for the Dichotomy of Immersion in Location Based Games

Adrian Gradinar, Jonny Huck, Paul Coulton, Mark Lochrie & Emmanuel Tsekleves@adriangradinar

http://goo.gl/yyulzt

Location Based Games

Allow users to play games that incorporate knowledge of their physical location and landscape, and then provide them with the ability to interact with both real and virtual objects within that space

Physical Space

Location Based Games

Digital Space

Immersion

https://goo.gl/OzUl33

1. Engagement

Immersion

2. Engrossment

3. Total Immersion

Total Immersion!

http://goo.gl/EGmB2E

Physical Immersion

Digital Immersion

Immersion in LBGs Space

Location Based Games

Physical Immersion

Digital Immersion

The Immersion Continuum

The Dichotomy of Immersion

Physical Immersion

Digital Immersion

http://goo.gl/yyulzt

Cause

Digital Immersion

Physical Immersion

https://goo.gl/5vv7Ni

http://goo.gl/Mez2fb

http://goo.gl/bT563k

And effect!

It’s all about navigating the game space!

Follow the Dot!

Solutions?

Digital Immersion

Physical Immersion

• Minimise the interaction with the mobile screen• Add new design features to the digital interface

http://goo.gl/Ow5OTy

Ambiguity

Pac-Lan: Zombie Apocalypse

Why PAC-MAN

An Iconic Game

http://goo.gl/j8lAC8http://goo.gl/uQE6J9

Physical Immersive Game Elements

The Pills

The Costumes

Digital Immersive Game Elements

The PAC-MAP

Ambiguity

Time-to-roam bar

Player’s avatarPlayer’s location

Check-in pill

Kill pill

The Game Interface

Centres the map on the last

tagged pill

Design Features

The Fog of War

Screen Blanking

Observations!

More Maps!PacMap RPG Map

AntiGlare MapSketchy Map

PacMap

Sketchy

AntiGlare

RPG

@adriangradinar