This thesis describes the process of designing a running game in mixed reality, inspired by superhuman sports.

The process started with analysing the possible design directions in the development of (superhuman) sports and corresponding emerging technologies. For this purpose, the concept of superhuman sports is considered. Superhuman sports are activities that rely on technology for human augmentation, involve physical fitness and skills, which are played for fun, competition or health reasons.

The next step was the decision for a design direction. This decision was made to design a new superhuman sport, in the form of a running game in mixed reality, to make the running experience itself more fun and motivating and distract runners from the exertion activity. An ideation phase followed in which different ideas were considered and eventually a combination for a final game design was chosen.

The final game design Play your run! is a running game that can be played location independent and provides a virtual replication of the opponent by wearing augmented reality glasses. Thus, the running game augments the real environment of the runner. In the game, runners compete with each other in a virtual time measured race on a pre-set real distance. They can harass each other by obtaining power-up items by running into virtual boxes placed on the course in the real world. The power-ups are placed in relation to geolocation and meshed surfaces. These items, e.g., add time to the virtual time of the opponent, require the opponent to freeze, or offer protection. The type of item that a player receives from the box is influenced by the runners’ speed, heart rate and current position in the virtual race. Such dynamic game balancing makes it possible for runners of all different levels to play the game.

A tournament with six runners was organized in order to investigated whether this running game let runners experience more fun, motivation and engagement. During this tournament, the runners played the running game in which the way they perceived and obtained virtual power-ups was controlled by the researcher. In order to keep the burden of extra technology for the runners low and focus on evaluating the game experience, stationary objects and projection were used to visualize the power-ups. Based on the experience of the runners, the game rules were proved to improve performance, distract the runner from discomfort and involve the audience.

A presentation movie of a possible game scenario was create to explain and present the game play. This report provides a description of the scenario and visuals to support and explain the intended gameplay. At some points the technology is not yet developed enough to play the game the initial way. Therefore a future implementation plan and possible future suggestions are given. This report describes the process of a new superhuman sport, a running game in mixed reality. The decision for other emerging technologies or sports can result in more new (superhuman) sports, that can performed during the International Superhuman Sports Championship in 2020.