Augmented Reality Games and Presence: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
• Game Studies

Background:

• The sense of presence in augmented reality (AR) is complex, with diverse research approaches and evaluation methods.
• Existing studies vary from adapting virtual reality standards to proposing AR-specific presence evaluations.
• The wide range of AR devices and virtual information integration presents challenges in assessing user presence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and clarify the dimensions of presence evaluated in AR games.
• To analyze how presence-related variables and immersion are measured in AR gaming research.
• To identify major research findings and discuss the impact of presence on player behavior in AR games.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review following the PRISMA methodology.
• Analysis of studies reporting visual AR games with presence or immersion data.
• Categorization of presence dimensions, evaluation methods, and research findings.

Main Results:

• Identified key dimensions of presence and related concepts (immersion, engagement, embodiment, telepresence) evaluated in AR games.
• Documented various methods used to assess presence and immersion in AR gaming contexts.
• Highlighted the influence of different AR devices on the player's experience of presence and immersion.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a structured overview of presence research in AR games, consolidating current knowledge.
• Findings offer insights into the evaluation of user experience and its impact on behavior in AR gaming.
• This review serves as a foundation for future research on presence and immersion in augmented reality environments.