a location based game

the game design workshop map	the Powerhouse on site

PROJECT LEADER
DEB POLSON, QUT

DESCRIPTION
This project will develop a location based game for Fortitude Valley that uses combinations of mobile technologies and devices and an online environment. The game will emphasise backpacker tourists, youth, international students and emerging creatives in 'The Valley' and surrounding areas. Levels of game play will account for the transient nature of backpackers, profile Creative Industries, and create a model for new business opportunities that sustain the game and associated activity.

This project develops new knowledge and applications in the field of LBG design in two key areas. First, it expands the potential for location-based games by applying the technology’s capacity for developing relationships between people and space for a new purpose: enhancing cultural participation and cultural capital in an inner city area. Application of LBG technologies for this purpose increases participants’ engagement in the histories and activities of their community and the communities of others, as well as developing a more coherent identity for local businesses, cultural institutions and other agencies. This is seen as an important contribution given the contemporary focus on developing the culture of cities to enhance peoples’ quality of life, the reputation of specific places and the generation of wealth (Zukin, 1995). Second, it involves the development of human focused approach in this area through a research design that systematically integrates research into socio-cultural aspects of locations and social groups into the game design process. The policy relevance of the research is also enhanced through the incorporation of utilisation-focus principles, building stakeholder values and goals into the development and evaluation process.

AIMS
1. Through an analysis of the social and economic relationships within the valley, establish points of activity in a LBG that results in new social and economic transactions between the backpacker tourists, local merchants, and residents;
2. Through these activities determine whether subscription based, online activities can be developed so that the backpacker tourists can continue to play the game after they return to their home countries (or before the arrive in Australia);
3. Determine the range of activities and levels of game play required to allow youth, international students and emerging creatives to sustain the game activity, but allow transient backpacker tourists to enter and exit as required by their own individual travel itineraries.
4. Market 'The Valley' as a destination for backpackers.

FUNDING
Brisbane City Ccouncil $100K
Australasian CRC in Interaction Design $20K

GAME LOCATION
Fortitude Valley, Brisbane.
Queensland, Australia

STATUS
In pre-production phase.

MY ROLE
As the project leader, I am responsible for the running of design workshops and for preparing the support documentation. However, as a research collaborator, my prime concern is the 'experience design'... ie. the game structure and its relationship to the site and the devices of play. I also supervise the team of graphic designers to create the overall visual aesthetic of the various interfaces (including characters, terrains, prome material etc)

COLLABORATORS
All University Collaborators (research leaders) offer up to 20% of their time 'in-kind"...

Project Leader: Myself: Queensland University of Technology
Research Assistant: Marcos Caceres: Queensland University of Technology
Research Assistant: Gavin Sade: Queensland University of Technology
Research Leader: Barbara Adkins: Queensland University of Technology
Research Assistant: Eryn Grant: Queensland University of Technology
Research Leader: Mathew Simpson: University of Queensland
Research Assistant: John: University of Queensland
Research Leader: Ann Morisson: Queensland University of Technology
Research Assistant: Yang Wong: Queensland University of Technology

The details of this project are currently protected under commercial in confidence.
This is a project funded by the Australasian CRC for Interaction Design (ACID)