The relationship between playing computer games and participating in local spatial planning of adults in the Netherlands

By Madeleine van Winkel (the Netherlands)

Abstract
This research is about the relationship between playing computer games and participating in local spatial planning to assess what kind of computer games should be made to stimulate participation in local spatial planning. In order to research this, an online questionnaire has been made in order to assess general information about the participants, including gaming habits, place attachment and involvement in local spatial planning. The results suggest that within the study population, playing games on an active computer with an active perspective and a simulation genre stimulates involvement in local spatial planning. No conclusions can be drawn due to a too small study population. Future research should aim for a bigger study population. With more time, a longitudinal study could be created where the effect of specific games through time (for example games on active computers with an active perspective and a simulation genre) could be examined.

Keywords: augmented reality; spatial awareness; gaming; (local) spatial planning; participation; 3D augmented reality games; non-fiction; fiction; computer games; place attachment.