At the intersection of sports and MMORPGs: A new model of active video games

Abstract

The challenge of designing an active video game that is an effective means by which to promote physical activity while at the same time is an engaging video game has been met with varied success. The key to overcoming this challenge is to approach design from the perspective that active video games are a unique combination of traditional video games and sports. By combining models of engagement — or flow — in both video games and sports a novel model of active video games is proposed. The proposed model highlights the element of institutionalization as absent from existing models of active games while it is ubiquitous in sports. From the proposed model stems the hypothesis that a successful active video game will support styles of play that vary along dimensions of physicality, competition, and institutionalization.