Alice Dalí augmented reality: Evaluating a cultural outdoors game for intergenerational play

Serious Games have been shown to have many uses, such as for learning and cultural engagement. Furthermore, research has shown that some types of game experiences can have significant social benefits, such as a study by Wang, Taylor and Sun, which showed that playing cooperative video games can improve family satisfaction and closeness. In this article, we present the design and evaluation of Alice Dalí AR (2022), a locative augmented-reality smartphone game designed as a cultural experience for families to engage with art, music and storytelling. Alice Dalí AR features 12 illustrations produced by Dalí in 1969 for the iconic story Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carrol. We applied a multisensory design methodology based on synesthesia, where art shapes and color palettes from Dalí’s paintings were “transposed” to music genre and music language. The play experience involves using a radar to find AR music art encounters through which a story of Wonderland emerges. The design offers a cultural and social play experience that can help strengthen family connections and knowledge exchange across generations, and at the same time encourage players to spend time outside in healthy walking activities. We present the results of a user study, which shows evidence of cultural engagement and increased intergenerational emotional bonding. The Alice Dalí AR app is available from the Google and Apple app stores.¹