Modern mobile games implement paywalls, a monetization strategy which can frustrate players by forcing them to either wait or pay to continue playing. Our survey results found paywalls to reduce player retention and overall rating. In this project, we explored improving paywalls by replacing waiting for paywalls with step goals. This creates a new form of paywalls called exer-walls, which aim to encourage physical activity. We designed and developed a mobile game called Laser Planets to test exer-walls, and found them to be successful both in reducing frustration and motivating physical activity. Experimental evaluation demonstrated the feasibility of exer-walls as a potential replacement for today's current paywall model.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Gallo, Anthony Richard
• Baumann, Philipp Henry

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042816-141444

Advisor

• Agu, Emmanuel O.
• Claypool, Mark L.

Year

• 2016

Date created

• 2016-04-28

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Computer Science

Rights statement

• In Copyright