Unraveling the chimera: promoting physical activities through ARG games

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of Alternate Reality Games (ARGs) in promoting physical activities to maintain physical health. ARGs are transmedia games that mix digital and real-life elements to deliver an engaging experience. The study examined how people could be motivated to engage in physical actions by using a short treasure hunt game. This study explored the power of an ARG game to modify human behavior at an individual level using the Within-subject design methodology. This study was driven by the following research question:Can users be motivated to perform physical activities through ARG? Study participants playtested an experimental game and answered the post-gameplay survey. The presented treasure hunt ARG game participants identified clues to advance in the gameplay. On the basis of post-gameplay survey results, my research found that the participants can be engaged in physical activities through an ARG game. This study contributes to the Exergame Design and Persuasive Technology field and could prove useful for motivating people to maintain fitness through gamification.