We recognized the potential challenge of communicating the game’s objective to players without triggering reactance. Directly instructing them to explore the city was perceived as an imposition on their comfort zones, resulting in resistance rather than enthusiasm. To address this, we used an Embedded Design approach. In our second prototype, instead of explicitly stating the goal of exploring new places, we introduced captivating storylines rooted in the local context of Pittsburgh. This narrative-driven approach compelled players to explore different parts of the city where clues were hidden. The aim was to obfuscate the true purpose, diverting players from the perceived threat of stepping out of their comfort zones.

Self-affirmation is a psychological intervention in which people reflect on self-defining values and can buffer people against such psychological threats. Self-affirming core values can lead to increased confidence, coping and enhanced learning, which is imperative in the context of relocation to ensure increased acclimation.

In our second prototype, we created a social experience by requiring users to play in pairs with acquaintances and included self-affirmation prompts where users choose values and engaged in conversations based on prompts.