@article{Arjoranta2020,

title = {Exploring Features of the Pervasive Game Pokémon GO That Enable Behavior Change: Qualitative Study},

author = {Jonne Arjoranta and Tuomas Kari and Markus Salo},

url = {https://games.jmir.org/2020/2/e15967/},

doi = {10.2196/15967},

issn = {2291-9279},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-04-01},

journal = {JMIR Serious Games},

volume = {8},

issue = {2},

pages = {e15967},

abstract = {Background:

Digital gaming is one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the world. While prior literature concluded that digital games can enable changes in players’ behaviors, there is limited knowledge about different types of behavior changes and the game features driving them. Understanding behavior changes and the game features behind them is important because digital games can motivate players to change their behavior for the better (or worse).



Objective:

This study investigates the types of behavior changes and their underlying game features within the context of the popular pervasive game Pokémon GO.



Methods:

We collected data from 262 respondents with a critical incident technique (CIT) questionnaire. We analyzed the responses with applied thematic analysis with ATLAS.ti (ATLAS.ti Scientific Software Development GmbH) software.



Results:

We discovered 8 types of behavior changes and 13 game features relevant to those behavior changes. The behavior changes included added activity in life, enhancing routines, exploration, increased physical activity, strengthening social bonds, lowering social barriers, increased positive emotional expression and self-treatment. The game features included reaching a higher level, catching new Pokémon, evolving new Pokémon, visiting PokéStops, exploring PokéStops, hatching eggs, fighting in gyms, collaborative fighting, exploiting special events, finding specific Pokémon, using items, Pokémon theme, and game location tied to physical location. The behavior changes were connected to specific game features, with game location tied to physical location and catching new Pokémon being the most common and connected to all behavior changes.



Conclusions:

Our findings indicate that the surveyed players changed their behaviors while or after playing Pokémon GO. The respondents reported being more social, expressed more positive emotions, found more meaningfulness in their routines, and had increased motivation to explore their surroundings.},

keywords = {Augmented reality games, Behaviour change, Behaviour change support system, Digital games, Exergames, Location-based game, Pervasive games, Pokémon Go},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Alha2019,

title = {Why Do People Play Location-Based Augmented Reality Games: A Study on Pokémon GO},

author = {Kati Alha and Elina Koskinen and Janne Paavilainen and Juho Hamari},

url = {https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-201903221408},

doi = {10.1016/j.chb.2018.12.008},

isbn = {0747-5632},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-04-01},

journal = {Computers in Human Behavior},

volume = {93},

pages = {114-122},

abstract = {Pokémon GO brought the location-based augmented reality games into the mainstream. To understand why people play these games, we created an online survey (n = 2612) with open questions about the reasons to start, continue, and quit playing Pokémon GO, and composed categories of the answers through a thematic analysis. Earlier experiences especially with the same franchise, social influence, and popularity were the most common reasons to adopt the game, while progressing in the game was the most frequently reported reason to continue playing. The player's personal situation outside the game and playability problems were the most significant reasons to quit the game. In addition to shedding more light on the Pokémon GO phenomenon, the findings are useful for both further studying and designing location-based augmented reality game experiences.},

keywords = {Augmented reality games, Free-to-play, Location-based game, Mobile gaming, Pokémon Go},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Kankainen2019,

title = {Games as Blends: Understanding Hybrid Games},

author = {Ville Kankainen and Jonne Arjoranta and Timo Nummenmaa},

url = {https://www.jvrb.org/past-issues/14.2017/4694},

doi = {10.20385/1860-2037/14.2017.4},

issn = { 1860-2037},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-01-17},

journal = {Journal of Virtual Reality and Broadcasting},

volume = {14},

issue = {4},

abstract = {The meaning of what hybrid games are is often fixed to the context in which the term is used. For example, hybrid games have often been defined in relation to recent developments in technology. This creates issues in the terms usage and limitations in thinking. This paper argues that hybrid games should be understood through conceptual metaphors. Hybridity is the blending of different cognitive domains that are not usually associated together. Hybrid games usually blend domains related to games, for example digital and board games, but can blend also other domains. Through viewing game experiences as blends from different domains, designers can understand the inherent hybridity in various types of games and use that understanding when building new designs.},

keywords = {Augmented reality games, Conceptual blending, Conceptual metaphor, Hybridity, Mixed reality, Pervasive games},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}