Phygital Play. HRI in a new gaming scenario.

This paper addresses the issue of screen time, a growing phenomenon triggered by the spread of digital devices, which may cause a health impact. The reduction of screen time emerges as a requirement, especially in games. For this reason, the paper offers an overview of the current Phygital game trend, through some related projects that highlight the potential of physical features in virtual games in terms of attraction and engagement. A new gaming framework is proposed as a step forward in the virtual-physical contamination. The proposed project consists of a projected playground, on which people and robot(s) can physically interact. The role of the robot is enhanced entrusting it different roles, from a companion, to an adversary, to the avatar of a remote player. By abstracting the inherent complexities and providing common functionality, the proposed framework aims to simplify the development of games that wish to exploit both digital and physical elements.