Pokémon GO with Social Distancing: Social Media Analysis of Players' Experiences with Location-based Games
Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction
; 6, 2022.
Article
in English
| Scopus | ID: covidwho-2214026
ABSTRACT
Pokémon GO is a popular location-based mobile game that seeks to inspire players to be more active, socialize physically and virtually, and spend more time outside. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, several game mechanics of Pokémon GO were changed to accommodate socially-distanced play. This research aims to understand the impacts of the pandemic and subsequent game adjustments on user perceptions of the game. We used an exploratory mixed-method approach, a machine learning technique (Latent Dirichlet Allocation) for topic modeling, and thematic analysis for qualitative coding of top-level Reddit comments to identify whether and how the social distancing approach changes the players' behaviors. The results demonstrate that players were less physically active, less eager to discover, and more interested in remote social practices. We discuss which players leverage social distancing changes and reflect on key game features that provide a better gaming experience in the age of remote play. © 2022 Owner/Author.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
Databases of international organizations
Database:
Scopus
Type of study:
Qualitative research
Language:
English
Journal:
Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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