Integrating LGA elements into the game diegetically.

Designers should target Location-Based Game players, incorporating LGA elements into the game's narrative to enhance immersion and minimize nuisance costs.

About this paper

The author investigates the impact of Location-Based Game Advertising (LGA) by using Pokémon GO as a case study, revealing that LGA serves as a digital billboard and enhances player agency.

The study also finds that positive memorability is linked to the match between physical reality and points of interest, and that ludic engagement mediates location memorability.

Here are some methods used in this study:

Semi-Structured Interviews Thematic Analysis

Which part of the paper did the design guideline come from?

“Interestingly, sentiment towards LGA in the game was generally positive, particularly regarding sponsored locations. Non-LGA advertising modalities, in contrast, are less than cherished by our participants. Our participants (19/27) particularly disliked banner ads and pop-up video ads. Tom (P27) thought the addition of banner ads would be "horrible" because "it just eats up screen real estate and takes away from the game." For Tom (P27), an always-on banner ad would distract from the hitherto (...)” (Section 4.3: FINDINGS)

Dunham, J., Papangelis, K., Boulanger, C., Lalone, N., Nika, E. [Lina, Saker, M., & Schwartz, D. (2023). Building Positively Affective Location-Based Advertising: A Study of Pokémon GO Players. Proceedings of the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, 1, 1–19.

Inspiration and scope

This paper focuses on LGA providers and Location-Based Game developers, and their design implications for Location-Based Advertising (LGA).

You are designing for children and guardians, prioritizing safety in geo-games with ads. Both contexts balance engaging location-based ads and responsibility. While LGA providers ensure effective, respectful ads, you must ensure children's safety and parental confidence.

Also, both contexts emphasize data privacy and security. The paper’s insights on managing data security in LGA can guide protecting children's privacy in geo-games.

Leverage these similarities to design non-intrusive, secure advertising in the 3D game environment. Gain parental trust and ensure safety for children and guardians, enhancing user engagement responsibly.

Your input

What: how do i prioritize safety in geo-games with ads
Who: children and their guardians
Design stage: Research

Understanding users

The following user needs and pain points may apply to your design target as well:

Ad integration respecting agency

Designers must integrate ads in a way that respects user agency, allowing users to choose when and how to interact with ads. This minimizes interruptions and maintains an engaging game environment, which is crucial for ensuring children's safety and parental confidence.

Enhanced Data Security and Privacy

Ensuring robust data security measures are in place can help protect sensitive user data. This creates a safer environment for children who play geo-games, fostering trust among parents regarding data privacy and security.

Methods for you

Consider the following method(s) used in this paper for your design work:

Semi-Structured Interviews

Using semi-structured interviews can help gather in-depth insights from participants about sensitive areas like prioritizing safety for children. Designers should focus on creating open-ended questions to elicit detailed responses concerning safety concerns related to geo-games with ads.

Thematic Analysis

Thematic analysis can help identify common patterns and key themes in user feedback, which is crucial for understanding safety priorities and how ads impact both children and guardians. Designers should be aware of biases and ensure diverse perspectives are included during analysis.

[Table 1] From this figure, you can understand how to structure and prioritize your research by looking at the demographics and characteristics of interview participants.