Integrating Physical Activity into Traditional Video Gaming: Exploring New Ways to Connect Digital and Real-World Experiences

Abstract

The growing amount of time spent playing video games has raised questions about the relationship between digital gaming, physical activity, and everyday life. Previous attempts to connect gaming with physical activity, such as motion-controlled and virtual reality systems, have introduced physical movement directly into gameplay but have also revealed limitations related to fatigue, effort, interaction preferences, and long-term engagement. This research explores an alternative approach in which physical activity remains separate from gameplay while becoming meaningfully connected to the player’s progression within the virtual environment.

The study investigates how gamers perceive the integration of real-world physical activity into traditional mobile and computer gaming, with particular attention to autonomy and the risk of perceived manipulation. Interviews conducted with gamers revealed a significant difference in perception: participants who were already physically active tended to perceive physical activity as a meaningful potential reward mechanism, whereas less active participants were more likely to perceive its integration into gaming as a form of pressure or manipulation. These findings suggest that the meaning attributed to physical activity plays an important role in determining its acceptance within a gaming experience.

Based on the literature review, theoretical framework, and user research, the project proposes a three-board game architecture that separates different gameplay experiences while supporting a unified player journey. Physical activity is not mandatory but provides an alternative means of progressing and accessing game content through accumulated steps or activity recordings. Since no single tracking method currently offers a completely intuitive and reliable way to capture all forms of physical activity without additional user effort or opportunities for manipulation, the proposed system combines step tracking, as a low-friction and broadly inclusive measure, with live or uploaded video recordings for activities requiring more explicit verification. This approach aims to establish a complementary relationship between physical activity and digital gaming while preserving player autonomy and the core experience of traditional gaming.