Experiments of Entertainment Application of a Virtual World System for Mobile Phones

Hiroyuki Tarumi(Kagawa Univ. & SpaceTag, Inc.)

Kasumi NishiharaKazuya MatsubaraYuuki MizukuboShouji Nishimoto(Kagawa Univ.)

Fusako Kusunoki(Tama Art University)

(C) H. Tarumi, 2005

Real World

Virtual City2(Historical World)

Virtual City1(Fantasy World)overlay

(C) H. Tarumi, 2005

Virtual Objects

Virtual CreaturesVirtual Architectural Objects

Designed With LightWave 3D

(C) H. Tarumi, 2005

Our Strategy

Popular

Low Cost

Light Weight

GPS-phonesNo extra devices

# of Users: 14M or moreCost: 10 ～ 20 k yen ($95 ～ 190)Weight: 120g

ConsumerRequirements

Solution

(C) H. Tarumi, 2005

GPS-phones in Japan

Supported by most of "au" (KDDI) phones and some of other phones.

More than 14 Million Terminals ("au").Some of "au" phones support E-

Compass & Brew platform, as well.Flat rate for internet access (optional)All companies will provide GPS in

future.

(C) H. Tarumi, 2005

Virtual City: User's View

A Real Building

Virtual Objects Shown

on a GPS-phone

A Virtual Building

ConceptualModel

Terminal

(C) H. Tarumi, 2005

Two Implementations

Browser-Based Using only Built-in Browsers Images are Generated at the Server Manual "Pull" Service

Brew-Based A Brew Application is Installed on the

Phone Images are Generated at the Terminal Automatic "Pull" Service

(C) H. Tarumi, 2005

BrowserBasedSystem

(C) H. Tarumi, 2005

What is an Active Agent?

Virtual creatures should be controlled with event-driven or autonomous mechanisms

Rule-based scenario: Events and Actions

Scenario Description Language: Q (Scheme-based Lang. developed at Kyoto University.)

(C) H. Tarumi, 2005

Interaction with a Virtual Creature

(C) H. Tarumi, 2005

Evaluation Session （ Jan. 2005 ）

Gaming (and Sightseeing Support) Application "MOMOTARO"

MOMOTARO is one of the most popular old heroes in Japanese old tales.

He defeated ogre (= pirates) and brought peace.

The base island of monsters is called "ONIGASHIMA", which is in our city.

(C) H. Tarumi, 2005

Monster (Ogre)

Moai Statue

Inside of Cave

ONIGASHIMAReal Onigashima

(C) H. Tarumi, 2005

3D Models

MomotaroDogMonkeyPheasant

Oni (Ogre)

(C) H. Tarumi, 2005

Map of the Virtual Worldoverlaid on Takamatsu Port

ONIGASHIMA

4km

(C) H. Tarumi, 2005

Evaluation

Jan. 15-29, 200521 subjects

(1 failed, 6 male students, 14 female students)

Each subject played the role of Momotaro.

25-58 minutes (ave. 35min.)GPS error: approx. 10m as S.D.

(C) H. Tarumi, 2005

Evaluation Process

A subject was given a GPS-phone, a compass, and

a map (virtual objects were not given except for the first one),

was given instructions for phone operation and the goal of game,

requested to play the game, and requested to fill in a questionnaire and

asked some questions.

(C) H. Tarumi, 2005

User's View in Play

(C) H. Tarumi, 2005

Results

QuestionAverage Score

(1:bad ... 5: good)

Did you enjoy the game? 4.60

Have you become interested in Megijima after this game?

4.10

Do you want to visit sightseeing spots introduced in the game?

4.15

Do you think that sightseeing guides using virtual and real worlds like this are effective?

4.40

Were you interested in the quiz battle with Oni? 3.90

Did you feel that you were walking in a virtual world?

3.95

Did you find some bad effects of GPS errors? 3.40

(C) H. Tarumi, 2005

Results

Mobile Gaming is exciting. Successful as an entertainment. 3rd person view gave a good result. System response was good. The GPS error problem still remains.

→ Path Matching Algorithm will be adopted.

As a sightseeing support system, we still have further investigation tasks. It was not a guide system. Trade-off balance between the real and virtual

(C) H. Tarumi, 2005

Future Work

More functions of agents send messages to the user. move create

Open evaluation sessions Anyone who has one’s own GPS-phone can

participate. Nov. 2005 (scheduled)

Integration with the brew-based version.