HeyThere: Design and Evaluation of an Augmented Reality Multiplayer Social Game

Wenxuan Zheng, Yuzheng Wu, Ziming Li, Yue Li, Diego Monteiro, Hai-Ning Liang

2025

Abstract

Augmented reality (AR) head-mounted displays (HMDs) have rapidly evolved and demonstrated great potential in various domains, especially for mobile scenarios, including social gaming. In this paper, we present the design and evaluation of HeyThere, an AR HMD social game developed on the Microsoft HoloLens 2 and designed to foster face-to-face interactions among strangers. The game aims to enhance social interaction by facilitating initial ice-breaking and enabling users to build future interactions. It also introduces an element of ”serendipity” into the gaming experience. In the paper, we present our design choices for and implementation of HeyThere, taking advantage of interaction with virtual pets. Our user studies indicate that such a game like HeyThere promotes socialization with strangers and uncovers serendipitous aspects of life, thus enhancing players’ overall life satisfaction. This research contributes to introducing a new approach to social gaming in AR HMDs and provides valuable insights into the design and development of AR social games.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Zheng W., Wu Y., Li Z., Li Y., Monteiro D. and Liang H. (2025). HeyThere: Design and Evaluation of an Augmented Reality Multiplayer Social Game. In Proceedings of the 20th International Joint Conference on Computer Vision, Imaging and Computer Graphics Theory and Applications - Volume 1: HUCAPP; ISBN 978-989-758-728-3, SciTePress, pages 577-587. DOI: 10.5220/0013142700003912

in Bibtex Style

@conference{hucapp25,
author={Wenxuan Zheng and Yuzheng Wu and Ziming Li and Yue Li and Diego Monteiro and Hai-Ning Liang},
title={HeyThere: Design and Evaluation of an Augmented Reality Multiplayer Social Game},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 20th International Joint Conference on Computer Vision, Imaging and Computer Graphics Theory and Applications - Volume 1: HUCAPP},
year={2025},
pages={577-587},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0013142700003912},
isbn={978-989-758-728-3},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 20th International Joint Conference on Computer Vision, Imaging and Computer Graphics Theory and Applications - Volume 1: HUCAPP
TI - HeyThere: Design and Evaluation of an Augmented Reality Multiplayer Social Game
SN - 978-989-758-728-3
AU - Zheng W.
AU - Wu Y.
AU - Li Z.
AU - Li Y.
AU - Monteiro D.
AU - Liang H.
PY - 2025
SP - 577
EP - 587
DO - 10.5220/0013142700003912
PB - SciTePress