The Effects of Spatial Complexity on Narrative Experience in Space-Adaptive AR Storytelling

A critical yet unresolved challenge in designing space-adaptive narratives for Augmented Reality (AR) is to provide consistently immersive user experiences anywhere, regardless of physical features specific to a space. For this, we present a comprehensive analysis on a series of user studies investigating how the size, density, and layout of real indoor spaces affect users playing Fragments, a space-adaptive AR detective game. Based on the studies, we assert that moderate levels of traversability and visual complexity afforded in counteracting combinations of size and complexity are beneficial for narrative experience. To confirm our argument, we combined the experimental data of the studies (n=112) to compare how five different spatial complexity conditions impact narrative experience when applied to contrasting room sizes. Results show that whereas factors of narrative experience are rated significantly higher in relatively simple settings for a small space, they are less affected by complexity in a large space. Ultimately, we establish guidelines on the design and placement of space-adaptive augmentations in location-independent AR narratives to compensate for the lack or excess of affordances in various real spaces and enhance user experiences therein.