A user study to analyse the experience of augmented reality board games

Background. Augmented Reality (AR) is a variant of virtual reality (VR), but where VR replaces reality with a virtual one, AR expands it allowing the user to see the real world and virtual information at the same time. Many have tried to adapt this technology for video and board games and although there are plenty of AR video games or mobile game applications there are no one selling AR board games. Some studies keep coming up from time to time trying to enhance board games with AR through graphics and extra information about player statistics, but there are not many that adapt game logic in AR games.Objectives. A literature review was conducted on related topics building the theoretical background. Then a multiplayer board game that could be played both with and without AR was created. The game was created in the Unity Engine using the Vuforia Engine for the AR, and assets were created for the AR. Design game logic with Unity and player interaction with AR. Create the analog assets. Conduct a user study for participants to rate the experience and analyse the gathered data from the user study.Methods. A user study was conducted with twelve participants who played two versions of the same board game within a controlled environment. One version was analog, and the other featuring AR. After each of the versions, the participants answered a questionnaire about the experience as described in the Game Experience Questionnaire. Results. The results show that participants thought the AR board game was a fun and interesting take on the traditional board games. However, participants also thought that the AR stability and the discomfort of holding up a mobile phone while playing was a worse experience. The statistical results also concluded that there was no significant difference between AR and none-AR board game versions.Conclusions. With the results gathered, the experience were more or less the same. Participants thought the AR version of the board game was fun and interesting because it improved their sense of discovery and imagination. However, because the AR felt unstable and uncomfortable, it disrupted the game flow and player immersion. With better implementation and a more suited device, AR could be enjoyable