Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Pheon: Practicing Problem Solving And Gaining Museum Literacy From Transmedia And Alternate Reality Games In Museums, Jes A. Koepfler, K. Tierney Sneeringer, Georgina Bath Goodlander

Journal of Interactive Humanities

The Luce Foundation Center of the Smithsonian American Art Museum ran a transmedia game, called PHEON, as an in-museum scavenger hunt-style game from October 2010 through September 2011. Players took on missions that sent them throughout the Museum's collections. From a summative evaluation of the game, we learned that PHEON supported problem solving skills, increased museum literacy, and help players connect with the Museum and its resources. Players also identified opportunities for improvement related to the game materials and its narrative. The paper offers a summary of lessons learned for others hoping to deploy an ARG or transmedia game …