Moving Beyond Mobile Tours: Creating Hybrid Spaces through Narrative and Gameplay in the Museum Collection

Abstract

This paper builds on emerging research that focuses on exploring the potential of mobile game applications to improve visitor experience in museums. Mobile applications have gained increased attention as a good technological solution for engaging museum visitors. This paper draws from the experience of Mosaic, a mobile game prototype for the i-OS platform designed to be audience tested with the Getty Villa's permanent collection, to present a design strategy that creates a hybrid space between game and museum. Mosaic attempts to create a hybrid space by blurring the line between museum and game world through integration of objects and spaces with story, user interface and game play.