Augmented Reality Games as an Urban Planning Tool: An Exploration of Pokémon GO

Abstract

When the mobile location-based augmented reality game Pokémon GO came out in July 2016, it exploded in popularity as hundreds of millions of players got out walking, explored their communities, and gathered in public spaces. This flourishment of urban life is exactly what every planner strives to accomplish. However, little research has examined the nexus between augmented reality games like Pokémon GO and urban planning. This study explores this relationship by researching how Pokémon GO, a form of augmented reality game, contributes to place attachment among players and identifying how planners can utilize augmented reality games to achieve their goals. Using Seattle as an observation site, the researcher conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with 20 Seattle-based Pokémon GO players to explore their gameplay experience and behavior. The data were analyzed using an inductive approach informed by place attachment literature. The results indicate that augmented reality games can create place dependence through functional aspects of the gameplay location that meet the player’s needs and goals. The enjoyment of successful gameplay and proximity-maintaining behavior contributes to feelings of affective attachment. Although further research is required to confirm the impact of augmented reality games on place identity, this study concludes that urban planners can utilize the gamification of augmented reality to achieve their planning goals. Planners can either design their own original augmented reality game or collaborate with the developer of an already popular augmented reality game like Niantic, the developer of Pokémon GO.