Can AR Gaming Save the World?
Our world is becoming closer and we are witnessing each other’s tragedy through the nightly news and social media. We’ve been swimming in a stream of grief and concern for more than a month now. And then… Pokémon Go (PoGo)!
The last video game I played was Atari’s Pong, so I’m a neophyte in the gaming world – as are many of my middle-aged friends. The silliness and sense of community we saw happening around PoGo drew us in quickly.
What is Pokémon Go?
PoGo is a mobile simulation game built upon the basic ideas of the original Pokémon game. The idea is to capture ‘bugs’, evolve them, fight them against other players’ Pokémon bugs, and take control of ‘gyms’.
“By using your phone’s ability to track the time and your location, the game imitates what it would be like if Pokémon really were roaming around you at all times, ready to be caught and collected.” The game requires users to get out and explore their real world in order to successfully play. This need to interact with the real environment while playing a simulated game has created a unique user experience.
While PoGo isn't the first mobile augmented reality (AR) game, it is the first widely used. PoGo is quickly becoming a social phenomenon, while also bringing public safety concerns.
The Concerns
Almost immediately, issues with PoGo players became apparent. As AR mobile gaming emerges, we will need to address these issues.
- Multiple players have incurred accidental injuries while using the game. These injuries appear to stem from poor decision making in catching Pokémon, combined with the randomness of ‘bug’ appearance in the real environment.
- Distracted driving due to players.
- Criminals luring players to locations for victimization
- Trespassing on private property
- Gaming at sites considered sacred
While most players will execute good judgment while gaming, the completive nature of these game appears to bring out poor judgment in some. Future AR games will need to address these issues for the modality to become widely accepted in society.
Community Building
Such a diverse and very nice community coming together to be Pokémon Masters!
The Future: Could fun be the gateway to reconciliation of cultures and races, and even religions?
As many fads, the excitement of PoGo is expected to decline as users resume their normal activities. Our sense of community will have improved, but may not expand. Building true community requires deeper interaction.
If I had no budgetary or technology limits, I would create an AR game that encouraged multiple levels of interaction, deepening the real world elements as the player progressed. The Unitarian Universalist Association has a framework in place for building community through games. Their Deep Fun: Games and Activities platform outlines five steps to community building.
- Bonding
- Opening Up
- Affirming
- Energy Breaks
- Stretching
- Deeper Sharing and Goal Setting
I would use the Deep Fun framework to develop a simulated AR game that encouraged interaction, bonding through group goals and accomplishments. Relationships are the basis of community. As our sense of community widens, our understanding of others' points of view widen. Technology has the potential to build bridges through common experiences and goals.
References and Further Reading:
Lopez, G. (2016). Pokemon Go, explained. Vox Explainers. Accessed 7/18/2016 at http://www.vox.com/2016/7/11/12129162/pokemon-go-android-ios-game
Rogers, J. (2016) Death by Pokemon? Public safety fears mount as “Pokemon GO” craze continues. Technology Fox News. Accessed 7/18/2016 athttp://www.foxnews.com/tech/2016/07/14/death-by-pokemon-public-safety-fears-mount-as-pokemon-go-craze-continues.html
Deep Fun: Games and Activities. (nd). Unitarian Universalist Association. Accessed 7/18/2016 at http://www.uua.org/re/youth/start/deepfun/45594.shtml
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