New Design Principles for Mobile History Games
Abstract
This study draws on design-based research on an ARIS–based mobile augmented reality game for
teaching early 20th century history. New design principles derived from the study include the use of
supra-reveals, and bias mirroring. Supra-reveals are a kind of foreshadowing event in order to ground
historical happenings in the wider enduring historical understanding. Bias mirroring refers to a nonplayer
character echoing back a player’s biased behavior, in order to open the player to listening to
alternative perspectives. Supra-reveals engendered discussion of historical themes early in the game
experience. The results showed that use of a cluster of NPC bias mirroring techniques enhanced student
ability to articulate points of view previously unavailable to them.
