Pathfinder Chronicles
Overview
Pathfinder Chronicles is a mobile application designed to address the increasing sedentary behaviors observed among university students and faculty due to the prevalence of digital educational tools. Specifically developed for the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), the app leverages the campus's pedestrian-friendly environment to integrate physical activity into daily routines. By transforming real-world steps into in-game progress, the application aims to make walking a purposeful and engaging activity rather than a mundane chore.
Passive Gameplay Mechanics
The application utilizes a "passive gamification" model, where users accumulate steps as currency or energy for character progression without needing to interact with the screen while walking. This design prioritizes user safety and situational awareness, addressing concerns about distracted walking in urban or campus settings. The game incorporates narrative elements inspired by the "Isekai" genre to provide immersive quests, alongside a hydration tracking feature that functions similarly to RPG potion mechanics, thereby promoting holistic health habits.
Evaluation and Impact
A comparative user study involving 30 participants evaluated the app against a standard non-gamified fitness application to measure its effectiveness. The results indicated that while the traditional app was rated higher for simple usability, the gamified prototype significantly outperformed it in terms of user engagement, perceived usefulness, and overall impression. These findings suggest that incorporating narrative and reward-based elements into health apps can successfully motivate users to increase physical activity despite the added complexity of the interface.
AI Use Disclousre
All illustrative assets in the high-fidelity prototype, including character avatars and background scenery, were AI-generated via ChatGPT to demonstrate the intended high-fantasy art direction.Contributions
- Conducted semi-structured interviews with five participants to investigate sedentary behaviors and campus walking habits.
- Synthesized qualitative data using affinity diagrams to identify key themes in user motivation and environmental constraints.
- Developed a detailed user persona based on demographic data to guide user-centered design decisions.
- Designed medium and high-fidelity prototypes in Figma, specifically owning the architecture for the main menu, profile, and town interfaces.
- Co-authored a research paper detailing the theoretical framework, design evolution, and statistical findings of the gamified health app.
- Evaluated user engagement and app usability through a comparative study involving 30 participants.