Perspective Sharing in Culture Group Games

Abstract

This work investigates how to digitally mediate perspective sharing and face-to-face conversations within groups of museum visitors. We use the case of a storytelling group game and explore the potential of mobile technology as a tool to facilitate perspective sharing activities. Using information asymmetry, a "Social Mediator" role is introduced: players' choices get displayed only to a single group member, who thus undertakes a leading role. The findings of an experience prototyping user study with playtesting in situ show that participants effectively and naturally carried out the pertinent dialogue facilitation activities. We identify behavioral patterns and discuss the insights they offer, showcasing how they shaped the mobile design for the particular use-case. We conclude that the distribution of the Social Mediator role between participants could successfully facilitate perspective sharing within groups and reflect on its potential and limitations in different collocated game experiences.