Proximity-Based Automatic Exchange of Data in Mobile Gaming: Studying the Experiences of StreetPass Users

Abstract

Despite the ubiquity of short-range connectivity technologies and their use for pragmatic purposes, the opportunities they provide for playful interaction are not well understood. StreetPass feature on Nintendo 3DS handheld gaming devices is a rare world-wide example of exchanging playful content (e.g. avatars, messages, items) automatically between close-by users over proximity-based technologies. To learn from the user experiences of this pioneer group we conducted an online questionnaire, gathering over 100 responses from active Nintendo 3DS users. The findings indicate that proximity-based automatic exchanges have remarkably enriched the gaming experience with 3DS, increased sense of community, and triggered serendipitous interactions between players. We argue that similar features could bring value also to other application areas and mobile systems; and describe what should be taken into account in their design.