Enhanced Community Through Augmented Reality: Social Benefits of Pokémon Go

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Psychology

Background:

• Augmented reality (AR) games like Pokémon Go integrate digital elements with the physical world.
• These games often incentivize real-world exploration and social interaction among players.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of Pokémon Go on players' sense of community belonging.
• To determine if playing Pokémon Go influences social interaction and local engagement.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous survey was distributed to Pokémon Go players at events and via social media.
• The survey collected data on demographics, gameplay, sense of belonging, and real-world interactions (meeting people, visiting new places, patronizing businesses).

Main Results:

• Out of 449 respondents, 88% met someone, 78% visited a new location, and 35% patronized a new business through the game.
• Higher Pokémon Go levels correlated significantly with increased sense of belonging and likelihood of real-world engagement.

Conclusions:

• Pokémon Go appears to foster a stronger sense of community belonging among its players.
• The game effectively encourages social interaction and exploration of local environments, enhancing community engagement.