Users’ Perspectives on Ethical Issues Related to Playing Location-Based Augmented Reality Games: A Case Study of Pokémon GO

ABSTRACT

Location-based augmented reality games are becoming increasingly popular, which causes a variety of tensions among players as well as between players and non-players. Subsequently, numerous ethical issues and challenges in designing and playing these games emerged. We conducted an online survey and analyzed 2,023 responses to better understand users’ participation in various game actions in location-based augmented reality games, and their perspectives on how ethical the actions are and for what reasons. We provide descriptive statistics showing people’s participation in these actions and analyze users’ expressed reasons as to why they think these actions are ethical or not. We use the theoretical lens of three ethical traditions–consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics–in our analysis, showing the dominance of consequentialism and deontology in people’s ethical judgment related to playing the game, and discuss implications and future consideration for game design.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jin Ha Lee

Jin Ha Lee is an Associate Professor in the Information School at the University of Washington and the Director of the GAMER Group. Her research focuses on understanding of how people engage with popular cultural media and articulating design implications for systems/services to support users’ entertainment, connection, and growth.

Jason Yip

Jason Yip is an Assistant Professor in the Information School at the University of Washington, an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Human–Centered Design and Engineering at the University of Washington, and the Director of KidsTeam UW. His research examines how technologies can support parents and children learning together.

Adam Moore

Adam Moore is a Professor at the University of Washington’s Information School and examines the ethical, legal, and policy issues surrounding intellectual property, privacy, free speech, and security. He holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Ohio State University (1997) and is the author of 2 books and over 40 articles.

Yeonhee Cho

Yeonhee Cho is a Ph.D student in the Information School at the University of Washington. His research interests focus on human computer interaction, game-based learning, virtual reality/augmented reality, and media psychology. He received a Master’s degree in learning science technology at University of Pennsylvania and media study at Syracuse University.

Zale de Jong

Zale de Jong is a graduate of the University of Washington, majoring in Earth and Space Sciences: Physics with a minor in Informatics. His academic interests are to combine data science and earth science in the field of cybersecurity to protect information systems in the earth science industry.

Ryan Kobashigawa

Ryan Kobashigawa is an undergraduate student at the University of Washington with a major in Informatics and minor in Geography. His academic interests include user research and design in both the video game industry and public health.

Alexander Escalera Sanchez

Alexander Escalera Sanchez is an Informatics student at the University of Washington, with a concentration on Human–Computer Interaction and Data Science. He is interested in Data Analysis and User Research, and topics related to video games and translations. He would like to provide insights into data for everyone to understand.