For the previous parts of the Project Concept Statement, check out Post #1.
Problem Space & Design Space
- Problem Space
Mobile Game players worldwide in 2013: 909 million.
Problems arising from intensely playing mobile games:
1. People neglect the beauty of their surrounding environment when they play games.
2. People stay in their bed/couch to play games – they neither walk around nor exercise.
ScenARio allows players to exercise, seize the landscape, and play mobile games at the same time!
Problems :
1. Lack of diversity
AR games share similar genres. They are usually shooting, war or driving games.
2. Less interactive with the surrounding environment
Except for a few (such as Pokemon GO and 역사탐험대 AR), all the other games integrated AR technology into their product just as a differentiation strategy. Nothing more nothing less. One of the main components of AR technology is to interact with the surrounding environment, but many of the games are missing this point.
3. Limitations on the game-playable spaces
Some of the games required people to find appropriate space in order for the AR to work properly. Not only did this make people feel frustrated but also created some negative views towards AR.
Existing AR Applications :
- Pokemon GO: Play the popular Pokemon GO game with your phone. AR pokemon will pop up in front of your eyes. Now, you can fulfill your dream of becoming a pokemon trainer.
- AR Combat: An AR shooting game. The place you view with your camera becomes the battlefield. Augmented reality tanks wander around. Your mission is to shoot those tanks and win the battle.
- Shooting AR: Being Google’s only AR game, this aero-shooting genre puts you in the position of a pilot. Shoot the approaching obstacles. Do not get hit, or else you will fall.
- Stack It AR: AR version of the game Stack It. The rules are the same as the original game, just that the stacks are shown as augmented reality models.
- AR Sea Wars: AR Sea Wars combines AR Core and BattleShip to create a new gameplay. The classic game from 1967 has been recreated with AR technology. No board needed, you just need your phone.
- AR Car Drive: The driving track will appear in front of your eyes. Drive your car! The background will be the camera preview, as you can drive in any view at any angle.
- AR Remote Car: Download the application and you can drive an RC car without buying it. This application does not contain levels or missions. All the fun comes from purely just driving the car.
- 역사탐험대 AR: Go to Korea’s best traveling spots and you will find your strongest heroes. Earn heroes, learn about history through cartoons, and fight against the evil.
2. Design Space
1. Navigation
Seize the surrounding environment. Exercise while touring around. Find all these fun while playing ScenARio.
- Interaction
By integrating digital game with physical natural space, we are hoping that people will be able to enjoy both nature and ScenARio at the same time.
- Interface
Make the digital game into a fun yet environmentally interactive game by:
- Making storyline tags using surrounding physical objects.
- Integrating high-quality 3D models related to the physical environment.
- Having high-quality storylines and entertaining games.
- Using easy and straightforward game UX/UI.
2. Features
- Maps
- The current locations of the users can be viewed through the map provided.
- Some of the major landmarks are also visible on the map; however, this does not necessarily mean that these venues are the succeeding AR tags hidden.
- After the users finish the game, they can see the paths they took in order to complete the game.
- Storylines
- Each landmark holds a different storyline and specific stories will only be visible if the correct landmark has been scanned.
- The storyline could be of different genres ranging from fantasy to history and others.
- Currently, the developers are still considering whether the users should be able to decide on the mode that they want to play, e.g. education mode.
- Search (still under development)
- A viewfinder along with a bar indicating the distance between the next object and the user appears.
- When users get closer to the landmark, the arrow indicator within the bar will gradually move towards the red section stated as “close”.
- After the users find the landmark, the viewfinder will turn red. After 3 seconds, a storyline with additional hints or 3D models will pop-up.
- Hints will be given at each venue; however, if users need help, they can always click on the “+” button for additional hints (but might require points).
- By pressing the “?” button, users can check out hints that they received in advance.
- Mini-games
- For some landmarks or hints, the users will be required to play mini-games or carry out activities.
- The mini-games can be played in two different modes: AR and non-AR.
- Examples of mini-games will range from simple puzzle games asking the users to match shapes and colors to finding their way out of a maze etc.
- Each mini-game will be related to the storyline provided.
Equipment
Smartphones :
ScenARio does not require any fancy equipment; the only thing that the user needs is his or her smartphone.
(The camera and GPS aspect must always be available for use.)
Diagram of Activities
Users, Personas, and Scenarios
Section 1 – Persona
Name:
Antonio Fisher
Photo:
Gender:
Male
Age:
32
Nationality:
United States of America
Family:
Single
Occupation:
English teacher at Chadwick International School in South Korea
Hobby:
- Traveling
- Photography
- Playing digital games
Current Address:
160, Central-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, Republic of Korea
zip code: 22003
Personality:
- Extrovert
- Energetic
- Questioner
- Adventurer
Motivation:
- Curiosity
- Exploring new places
Environment:
He has a great interest in technology in general, especially technologies related to gaming. He has an Xbox at home that he plays every day for at least 2 hours. He visits VR cafes once a week with his friends. Also, he still loves to play Pokemon GO. He is relatively more exposed to technology than normal people.
Has he ever used AR technology before?
Yes
Quote:
“Everyone loves to travel, but I like to put a little twist to mine.”
Section 1 – Scenario
Frustrations (Mood & Emotion):
- Bored of having to walk the same path over and over again.
- Eager to have changes in his daily life.
Wants:
A new traveling style that is both interactive with the surrounding environment and trendy.
How they found out about our product:
His students recommended the application to him.
Use context:
Can be used as a creative way to travel around a given area while interacting with the surrounding environment.
Starting point:
East Boathouse of Songdo Central Park
Scenario:
Antonio Fisher, a 32-year-old English teacher at a local International High School, was getting bored of his life at Songdo. Although he wanted to travel around Korea, he just could not make the time to do so because of his job. While he was searching for a new stimulus to brighten up his life, one of his students recommended “ScenARio” – an AR game that helps users to interact with their surrounding environment. The coming weekend, Antonio downloaded the application from the Apple Store. The application allowed him to search for the nearest starting point, in his case, the East Boathouse at Songdo Central Park. While he was walking towards his destination, he was excited but worried at the same time. Songdo Central Park was where he usually went for nightly strolls. He was pretty confident that he knew the place well; thus, he was concerned that his new excitement might end up as a huge disappointment. However, his worries immediately disintegrated as he started the game.
When Antonio arrived at the East Boathouse, he was asked to identify one of the monuments located around the boathouse. He began to scan the area using the camera on his phone. After scanning the initial object, a storyline popped up that introduced the game. Then he was given a hint to find the next object. He began walking around the Songdo Central Park, exploring for the next target. At first, it was easy to find, however, as the game went on, he had to solve various puzzles and carry out different activities to obtain the succeeding hint. During the process, even though he was sweating tremendously, he did not feel tired at all. Rather, he felt refreshed and was thrilled to move to the next location. After he reached the end of the game, he was amazed at how differently he perceived Songdo Central Park. He felt like he was given the chance to investigate the whole area in depth, as he noticed details of the park that he normally passed by. He was excited to try out other areas of Songdo, as he made plans to visit the remaining starting points present near his house.
Section 1 – Map & Spatial Setting
Map:
Sketches of Spatial Settings:
Section 2 – Persona
Name:
Ye Shin
Photo:
Gender:
Female
Age:
21
Nationality:
Republic of Korea
Family:
- The second child of the family (out of four)
- Currently a couple
Occupation:
A sophomore student at Yonsei University majoring in mechanical engineering
Hobby:
- Reading
- Shopping for cosmetics
- Hanging out with friends
Current Address:
242, Yeonhui-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
zip code: 03718
Personality:
- Sensitive
- Gentle
- Friendly
- Positive
Motivation:
Environment:
Ye is not particularly familiar with AR technology. She played some of the famous AR games, such as Pokemon GO, but never really found them interesting. Her boyfriend is a huge fan of new interactive technology and has been trying to get her to use some of them. Other than that, she is rather an antique person.
Has she ever used AR technology before?
No
Quote:
“Life is dear, love is dearer. Both can be given up for freedom.”
Section 2 – Scenario
Frustrations (Mood & Emotion):
- Tired of dating at usual places, such as cafes and movie theaters.
- Nervous to explore the Sinchon area by herself.
Wants:
Get familiar with the new Sinchon environment as soon as possible and find a new method to hang out with her boyfriend.
How they found out about our product:
Found the product on one of the YouTube advertisements.
Use context:
The application is used for simply having fun and touring around. Also, a good interactive source for couples that are searching for new innovative ways to hang out.
Starting point:
U-plex
Scenario:
After staying her freshman year in Songdo, it is Ye’s first year residing in Sinchon. She is not particularly good at adapting to new environments, but she felt an urgent need to tour around the Sinchon area to get a grasp of her new school life. However, her boyfriend would not stop nagging her to go on a date with him. Thinking of a way to persuade him, Ye was searching for cafes that they might be able to visit while they are on their date. Then, on a YouTube advertisement, she found “ScenARio” – an AR game that helps users to interact with their surrounding environment. As soon as she saw the advertisement, she downloaded the application and told her boyfriend to meet the next day at Sinchon for a new entertaining date.
They met in front of the Red Mirror, which turned out to be the starting point for the Sinchon area. Ye scanned the object. The introduction of the game popped up followed by a storyline with hints leading to the next tag. Her boyfriend, who is a huge fan of AR technology, was intrigued to continue with the game, as he and Ye began walking around the Sinchon area searching for the next object. While exploring around Sinchon, Ye visited several cafes and shops along the way. She even visited a famous bookstore, which turned out to contain hints for the next hidden object. After more than 15 rounds, the couple finally arrived at Yonsei University Daewoo Building. The preceding hint led them to the main lobby of the building, and there they were asked to take a selfie facing one of the indoor monuments. The ending message appeared. After the game was over, Ye realized that they have toured around the whole of Sinchon and had so much fun along the way. It not only allowed her to visit the numerous shops and different locations in Sinchon but also gave her a chance to have a nice meaningful date with her boyfriend. Overall, she was very satisfied with the product, as she planned on using the application again on her next date.
Section 2 – Map & Spatial Setting
Map:
Sketches of Spatial Settings:
Interface Sketches
*Needs further development.
Interface References
ID-ER 