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Developing Compelling Repetitive-Motion Exergames by Balancing Player Agency with the Constraints of Exercise

Participation rates in repetitive-motion exercise programs, such as programs for muscle-strengthening and physical rehabilitation, are low. Exergames show promise in encouraging people to exercise, but it is challenging to build compelling games around repetitive exercises. Games involve players making meaningful choices, but repetitive-motion workout programs are rigidly structured, making it difficult to find opportunities for such choices. As such, there is a struggle between providing players with meaningful choices and meeting the constraints of the exercise program. We discuss methods for enhancing agency in repetitive-motion exergames while still meeting these rigid constraints. We illustrate these methods through Brains & Brawn, a novel strategy card game for muscle-strengthening. Playtesting with eight participants demonstrated that players experienced agency during gameplay, were incented to exercise with correct form, and showed favorable attitude toward the game.