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BBC R&D White Paper WHP171

Location-aware social mobile gaming as a learning tool
Maxine Glancy, Alia Sheikh, Steve Jolly, Matt Hammond, Brendan Crowther (BBC) & Gareth Smith (Imperial College)

Keywords
gaming, phone, social, education, children, community, collaboration, competition,  multi-player, Java, J2ME, MIDlet, client-server, thin-client

Abstract
Location-aware, social, mobile games are now becoming a practical reality. This investigation sought to understand if and how such technology could be utilised as an engaging vehicle for BBC content, and more specifically as a learning tool, particularly for younger members of the BBC's audience.

The investigation also sought to assess the possible benefit of interlinking the “universes” of different games to create a richer, more engaging experience by, to some degree, creating the impression of there being a larger number of players in each game. This was implemented by players in one game manifesting in another form within the other.

Two interlinked location-aware learning games for children were designed, developed, built and evaluated, using an Open Source platform (called Wombile) on mobile phones and GPS receivers. A small scale controlled pilot trial was conducted with 6 players.

This trial demonstrated that interactive, social, multi-player  gaming experiences on mobile phones can be fun and appealing to children; that gaming experiences can be used to deliver learning experiences; and that implementing a ‘multiple universes’ interlinked-game concept enhanced the overall experience.

The project also demonstrated the feasibility of building these types of application using the Wombile platform.