thesis/ThesTeX/content/0-introduction.tex

23 lines
2.2 KiB
TeX

In this thesis, a framework for the analysis of spatial game data is developed.
This game data is collected during the game sessions and stored in log files.
The following chapters describe the basics of the development process.
\section{Location based Games: Put the `fun' in education}
Spatial games, also known as location based games, are at the intersection of GIS and gaming technology \cite{Ahlqvist2018}.
With game actions tied to real-world spatial places, this genre breaks the magic circle of games: they are embedded into the environment and the boundary between game and non-game are vanishing \cite{montola2009games}.
As they feature locomotion as an essential game part, a focus on certain aspects of the environment can be achieved by game related tasks.
These tasks can include educational aspects or reward special behaviour through ingame benefits as mean of gamification.
A playable game with good balance and a lasting impact needs to consider the trade-off between board and race style games \cite{1705427,kremer2013spatial}.
Board style games are dominated by strategic planning with less temporal restrictions, while race styled games favour the physical capabilities of the fastest players.
Popular examples of mobile geogames are Ingress\furl{https://www.ingress.com/} and the more recent Pokemon Go\furl{https://www.pokemongo.com/}\!.
These worldwide playable games barely embed the surroundings into the game except for the base map and some landmark-derived attributes\footnote{Pokemon Go aligns the land types with the possible types of Pokemon's available}\!.
With a fine tuned setup of educational content, game elements and integration of locomotion on the other hand, location based games (also known as geogames) foster recognition of the environment.
\autoref{img:gg2} shows the map overview of such a game: FindeVielfalt Simulation\furl{https://biodivlb.jimdo.com/english-1/project-finde-vielfalt/finde-vielfalt-simulation/}\!.
Located in an orchard, the blue dots are caches tied to game actions.
To proceed in the games narrative story, the caches are to be completed.
The players have to complete a task within the context of the caches' location.
\image{.5\textwidth}{../../PresTeX/images/gg2}{Geogame map view}{img:gg2}