Urban games: Application of augmented reality

A new potent mix of gaming, mobile devices, and urban environments transforms the public realm and the way we operate within it by embedding digital information in the physical world. According to the website for Simon Games, a project of the Pervasive Media Studio, "Games are the new cinema, they are breaking free from the console and hitting the streets. These games are a new way of exploring ideas, meeting people and having fun. Hugely social, they are a new entertainment form." [1] While breaking free from the console and hitting the streets, we always make sure to bring a mobile device with us. Mobile devices, empowered by diverse apps, become a necessary interface and facilitators for social interactions by allowing us to read and embed a digital location-based content. Multiplayer gaming environments, electronic social networks, or mobile location-based games allow for a diverse level of encounters without the need to personally engage with others face-to-face or reveal one's identity. Digital media make it easier for many to engage with strangers, to learn, and to contribute creatively into the built environment.