Towards Somaesthetics Inspired Games: Exploring the Influence of a Mirror Effect on Self-Presentation in a Public Setting

TL;DR

This study investigates how the presence of a mirror affects self-presentation behaviors in players of an augmented mirror game, revealing behavior changes like increased smiling that could inform Somaesthetics-inspired game design.

Contribution

It introduces a novel augmented mirror game setup and provides initial empirical insights into self-presentation dynamics in social gaming contexts.

Findings

Participants smiled more when seeing themselves in the mirror.

Self-presentation behaviors differed significantly with mirror visibility.

Mirror presence influenced social interaction patterns.

Abstract

We report on an initial user study, which explores how players of an augmented mirror game, self-style or self-present themselves when they are allowed to see themselves in the mirror compared to when they do not see themselves. To this end, we customized an open source fruit slicing game into an interactive installation for an architecture museum and conducted with 36 visitors a field study. Based on an analysis of video recordings of participants we identified, for example significant differences in how often participants smile. Ultimately, presenting a self-image to gamers in a social setting resulted in behavior change, which we argue could be utilized carefully from a Somaesthetics perspective as an experience design feature in future games.