A Brief History of Serious Games

This chapter discusses the ways in which an understanding of key concepts from both communication studies and critical pedagogy can improve the use of serious games in learning environments. By exploring a history of educational theory that champions the ontological work of critical pedagogy, the authors note how critical self-reflection can be facilitated by serious games. This chapter then distinguishes between models of human communication as information transfer (on which some educational gaming situations are implicitly based) and models of human communication as social construction, or a process of co-constructing social realities and identities (on which new and future gaming situations might be based) as a way of demonstrating to both designers and educators the benefits of viewing games communicatively. Because video games are symptom and emblem of life in informatic control societies, their role in education is exceedingly important for cultivating students’ critical reflection on the binarisation of everyday life (which is increasingly structured by algorithmic logics that polarize lived experience). Serious games often provide opportunities for gamers to become “experts” of scientific or informational knowledge and often more skilled technique—or skilled, technical know-how. However, they often fail to provide opportunities for critically reflective practice or the development of praxis. Incredibly rapid technological/scientific advancements in societies focused on production leave little room for mindful activity. Although we continue to “advance,” we often fail to unite two fundamental aspects of critical learning: the moral and political (praxis) with the technical and productive (techne). Serious games can assist in doing this.

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A narrative literature review: the application of video games as therapeutic tools for psychological therapy

Australasian Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/10398562211022751 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 103985622110227

Author(s):

Sean Mahon-Daly ◽

Neil Jeyasingam

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Video Games ◽

Serious Games ◽

Preliminary Evidence ◽

Critical Discussion ◽

Randomised Control Trials ◽

History Of ◽

Narrative Literature ◽

Narrative Literature Review ◽

Therapeutic Tools

Objectives: Video games (games played by electronically manipulating images produced by a computer programme on a screen) are being developed with a specific focus on treating mental health. This narrative review briefly discusses the history of video games and mental health. It then provides a critical discussion on the application of video games as therapeutic tools, then discusses the notion of ‘serious games’ ( games designed for a primary purpose other than entertainment) and their applicability. Conclusions: Serious games have preliminary evidence to support their use practically in the clinical treatment of mental illness. Future randomised control trials are necessary to further explore their efficacy and potential areas of application.

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