Exploring the association between engagement with location-based game features and getting inspired about environmental issues and nature

Bastian Kordyaka, Samuli Laato, Sebastian Weber, Juho Hamari, Bjoern Niehaves

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedingPublished conference proceedingScientificpeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Today, millions worldwide play popular location-based games (LBGs) such as Pokémon GO. LBGs are designed to be played outdoors, and past research has shown that they can incentivize players to travel to nature. To further explore this nature-connection, we investigated via a mixed-methods approach the connections between engagement with LBGs, inspiration and environmental awareness as follows. First, we identified relevant gamification features in Study 1. Based on the insights, we built a survey that we sent to Pokémon GO players (N=311) in Study 2. The results showed that (a) social networking features, reminders, and virtual objects were the most relevant gamification features to explain inspired by playing Pokémon GO and that (b) inspired to outdoor engagement partially mediated the relationship between inspired by playing Pokémon GO and environmental awareness. These results warrant further investigations into whether LBGs could motivate pro-environment attitudes and inspire people to care for nature.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication Proceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Sytems
PublisherACM
Pages1-15
Number of pages15
ISBN (Electronic)979-8-4007-0330-0
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11 May 2024
Externally publishedYes
MoE publication typeA4 Article in a conference publication

Publication series

NameConference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings

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