Dr Melissa Rogerson was awarded a Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) from the Australian Research Council to undertake this research between January 2024 and December 2026.

This project aims to develop design tools for hybrid games that combine technology with tabletop play. Through a detailed examination of successful hybrid boardgames and an iterative, human-centered design and evaluation process that explores embedding novel sensors and tools into boardgames, it will explore the design, use, and experience of hybrid games. Expected outcomes include design of innovative and reusable components, a framework for understanding technologies that enable hybrid play, and a theory-based design methodology. Benefits include innovation in the tabletop game sector, fostering social connections for distanced families, and new applications of games for simulations in health, defence, and logistics.

There are three main streams of research in this project.

  • Package 1 examines how technologies have been successfully used in physical games. It will include visits to game archives around the world in 2024 and 2025 as well as repair and reconstruction of selected older games. The outcome will be a preliminary classification system for these games and their enabling technologies, and an overview of how games have been using technology since the start of the twentieth century.
  • Package 2 explores the creation and evaluation of examples and prototypes. What does it feel like to play a hybrid game? Is the experience the same as when we play a boardgame or computer game? How can we use apps, sensors, and actuated components to create interesting play experiences?
  • Package 3 focuses on the creation of a “Playbook” – a theory-based design methodology for materially hybrid games. The playbook will include specific examples and templates, as well as incorporating the understandings gained from the first two pieces of work.

Participate in this Research.

There will be different ways to get involved in the project over its three years. You can follow the current Research Activities list or see the activities below:

  • I am forming a Critical Play Reference Group which will meet approximately every month at our offices in Carlton, to play different hybrid games and comment on the play experience. This activity aims to gain a general overview of the different games that are available and their player experience. You can join the CPRG as a regular or just for a single session.
    For more information about the CPRG please see the published Critical Play Reference Group information.
  • Alongside the Critical Play Reference Group, I am forming a Hybrid Play Advisory Group, comprising publishers and designers with a sustained interest in these games. This group will meet 2-4 times per year, online. If you are interested in joining the HPAG, please email me at melissa.rogerson@unimelb.edu.au .
  • As we develop new games, we will recruit people for Game user experience studies. You will need to come to our offices in Carlton to participate in one of these sessions. I will advertise these sessions when we are ready to run them.
  • I am interested in interviewing people about their memories of early hybrid games. University research projects with people are required to undergo Human Ethics review, even when they are relatively straightforward. I will provide more information when the review is complete and I am able to recruit participants.
  • Finally, I will be hosting a Hybrid Game Jam (or maybe Jams). This is also subject to Human Ethics review and will be scheduled and advertised when that review has been completed.