Fit to Draw: An Elevation of Location-Based Exergames

Fit to Draw is a multiplayer, location-based mobile exergame designed to integrate physical movement with creative, social gameplay. The primary objective is to motivate users to engage in outdoor exercise and social interaction by requiring them to physically walk or run to "draw" pictures on a map. Unlike many existing location-based games where social elements are peripheral, this game centers on a collaborative and competitive Pictionary-style loop where players must navigate outdoor environments to trace shapes, which others then attempt to guess.

The development process utilized the Unity game engine, C#, the Photon Unity Networking 2 framework, and Mapbox for GPS and mapping services. The design emphasizes simplicity and accessibility, featuring a four-phase gameplay structure: choosing a word, drawing the path, guessing the drawings, and viewing scores. To ensure a positive user experience, the developers incorporated features such as an eraser, multiple color options, and a timer-based scoring system that rewards both the drawer and the guessers.

Testing involved seven participants across three groups, who provided feedback through post-experience surveys and observational analysis. Participants reported a high level of enjoyment, rating the experience an average of 8.8 out of 10. Key findings indicate that while users faced minor technical challenges—such as GPS drift and internet instability—the game successfully fostered social interaction and physical activity. The study concludes that the integration of physical movement into a familiar drawing-and-guessing format effectively encourages outdoor engagement. Future iterations aim to improve UI aesthetics, enhance accessibility for visually impaired users, and introduce remote play capabilities to further expand the game's social reach.