This thesis describes the development of a mobile application prototype for the Android platform that combines augmented reality and gamification elements to encourage young users to actively explore Ljubljana. The application prototype guides the user to five historically and culturally significant locations in the city centre, where they collect three-dimensional tokens in augmented reality, earn points, and complete interactive challenges.
Prior to development, an online survey was conducted to inform the design of the application prototype. The visual identity was designed in a neon style on a dark background. Five 3D token models were created in Blender, UV unwrapped, and textured with a unified gradient. Implementation was carried out in the Unity development environment using the Mapbox Unity SDK for map display and AR Foundation with the Google ARCore platform for augmented reality functionality. The application prototype was compiled into an APK package for the Android platform and tested on three devices from different manufacturers.
The prototype was evaluated with four test users at locations in Ljubljana. A questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale was designed for evaluation, divided into four thematic sections: gamification and motivation, augmented reality, cultural content, and overall satisfaction. The augmented reality module received the highest scores. Based on the questionnaire results and feedback from test users, both research hypotheses were confirmed: gamification elements encouraged users to actively and enjoyably explore the city, and interactive challenges fostered social exploration and interaction with other people.
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