Ubiquitous computing architectures enable interaction and collaboration in multiuser applications. We explore the challenges of integrating the disparate services required in such architectures and describe how we have met these challenges in the context of a real-world application that operates on heterogeneous hardware and run-time environments. As a compelling example, we consider the role of ubiquitous computing to support the needs of a distributed multiuser game, including mobility, mutual awareness, and geo-localization. The game presented here, "SoundPark", is played in a mixed-reality environment, in which the physical space is augmented with computer-generated audio and graphical content, and the players communicate frequently over a low-latency audio channel. Our experience designing and developing the game motivates significant discussion related to issues of general relevance to ubiquitous game architectures, including integration of heterogeneous components, monitoring, remote control and scalability.
One of the goals of mixed reality and ubiquitous computing technologies is to provide an adaptable and personal content at any moment, anywhere, and in any context. In Multiplayer Ubiquitous Games (MUGs), players have to interact in the real world at both physical and virtual levels. Player profiles in MUGs offer an opportunity to provide personalized services to gamers. This paper presents a way to manage MUG player profiles on an NFC Smart Card, and proposes a Java API to integrate Smart Cards in the development of MUGs. This user centric approach brings new forms of gameplay, allowing the player to interact with the game or with other players any time and anywhere. Smart Cards should also help improve the security, ubiquity, and the user mobility in traditional MUGs.
Abstract. Player feedback data was collected for the pervasive game "Meet Your Heartbeat Twin", an event-type LBS (Location-Based Service) game including affective computing through the player's live heartbeats. Correlation analysis of the data demonstrates broad client profile for pervasive games, covering age, gender and hobbies. The data also shows that Urban Games are clearly a novel experience; they are not an extension neither from video games, nor from mobile phone casual games. Surprisingly, the online sharing of the player's very personal data, player's location and live heart rate was not perceived as a critical issue at all. As expected, game control is crucial: to have fun, players need some adaptation time for GPS orientation and this even for a very low level complexity of mobile phone usage.
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