Vinaya Tawde: Using Mobile Augmented Reality for Making Gameplay Immersive and Engaging

This paper presents a work-in-progress project detailing a Mobile Augmented Reality (MAR) game that blends the digital and physical worlds, making gameplay immersive and engaging. Navigating real-world spaces requires players to make quick decisions based on their environment, fostering quick thinking and adaptability. This heightened realism can make the gameplay more thrilling and impactful. With the rise of video games as a popular form of entertainment and the unique learning opportunities presented by augmented reality, this convergence warrants thorough investigation. We present Fury of the Red Black Tree (FoRBT), a custom-designed mobile augmented-reality game that enhances engagement and immersion by integrating real-world interaction. FoRBT focuses on two aspects of gameplay: 1) using the immediate environment for contextual integration, enhancing situational awareness and adaptability, and 2) continuous movement, enhancing hand-eye coordination and reflexes, and preventing the monotony that can occur in passive games. Future work will focus on refining the software, enhancing the game’s spatial user experience, and conducting user testing.