Page 174 - Kaleidoscope Academic Conference Proceedings 2021

2021 ITU Kaleidoscope Academic Conference

significant for the physical well-being of a person in modern Locative AR games allow players to visualize the virtual
society. Although AR technology is new for computer object that merges with the physical world. The games are
gaming and quite different from typical video games, there designed to let players physically move around by following
are a lot of AR games that are considered user-friendly. The the immersive images they see on their gadgets' screens. The
gadget needed for such AR games could only be a mobile first locative AR game named ARQuake was introduced in
phone device. 2000, and it was the extended version of a desktop game
called Quake [9]. In this early version of the locative AR
Feldman [4], in his article AR Gaming Is a Work in Progress game, players had to use a transparent Head-Mounted
- But There Are Still Some Good Games, lists 9 AR games Display (HMD), placed on their head, with an internal half-
that have struck the world. The games are Pokémon Go, silvered mirror that combines images from an LCD with the
Stack AR, Splitter Critters, Shadows Remain, Arise, player's vision of the world. Using this equipment setup with
Conduct AR!, My Tamagotchi Forever, Follow Me Dragon a wearable computer, the players could move around and
and The Machines. Berger, a Wharton marketing Professor, walk on streets whilst visualizing virtual objects that are not
states that AR games are popularized due to the trending visible to other people's bare eyes.
game - Pokémon Go. Pokémon Go is a simple game but
remarkable, and it encourages the players to explore places The latest inventions of locative AR games allow players to
outside of their neighborhoods [5]. According to Batchelor be independent of heavy equipment, and all they need is just
[6], Pokémon Go is the fastest-growing mobile game in a mobile handphone and internet access. Hence, everybody
terms of revenue. Nevertheless, Pokémon Go is not the first who has a smartphone could be an AR game player.
AR game but its predecessor, Ingress or Ingress Prime, is the Scientists are currently working hard to make AR application
AR game that started the trend. Generally, AR games usage more convenient in the future by developing smart
enhance perceptions and views of the physical world in contact lenses that are equipped with the necessary micro
various aspects of life. The application of the technology is components [10]. Even though the effort has not been
evolving, and it can be accessed easily using mobile phone realized yet, the emboldening goal has somehow been
apps. demonstrated on mass media. For example, a Korean drama
titled the Memory of Al Hambra had featured locative AR
2.3 Locative augmented reality games games as the main subject of the drama plots [11].

Location-based or locative AR games use actual locations 2.4 Problem statement
with specific coordinates and geographical elements as the
digital game environment. Location-based games can be Undoubtedly, the locative AR gameplay has affected how
defined as a game activity that evolves according to players’ people behave in public spaces: such as parks and squares.
location [7]. Locative AR games use players’ physical and Public parks and squares are not feasible for players to play
geographical locations through a Global Positioning System the locative AR games because most city authorities have not
(GPS) sensor module as an input for generating the game considered providing special places for locative AR
level or access to location-specific information, including gameplay. This spatial intervention of locative AR games in
maps, weather and location-based services [8]. The game public spaces could become an issue when the parks are
uses real-world weather information and integrates them crowded with players gathering around to play the locative
with the digital world of AR. Based on observation, it is AR games. Consequently, the issues are raised when the
discovered that the digital image of maps in various types of other users of public spaces feel bothered by the presence of
locative AR games appears different. Figure 1 shows the players and noises created by the players. Figure 2 shows
digital image of maps of different locative AR games played how a public walkway has been excessively used by locative
at the exact location, at the campus of International Islamic AR games players, raising spatial intervention.
University Malaysia (IIUM).

Figure 2 – Overcrowded public walkway at KLCC park
(photo by: MirulMirul)
Figure 1 – Digital images of maps of various locative AR
games

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