Serious games aren’t serious enough for myoelectric prosthetics (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Alexander Garske ◽  
Matthew Dyson ◽  
Sigrid Dupan ◽  
Graham Morgan ◽  
Kianoush Nazarpour
Keyword(s):  
Game Design ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Task Structure ◽  
Muscle Training ◽  
Virtual Training ◽  
High Profile ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
Acquisition Device ◽  
Specific Skill ◽  
Soft And Hardware

UNSTRUCTURED Serious games show a lot of potential for use in movement rehabilitation, for example, after a stroke, injury to the spinal cord or limb loss. However, the diverse nature of this research leads to diversity both in the background of the researchers and in the approaches of their investigation. Our close examination and categorization of virtual training for upper limb prosthetic rehabilitation affiliated the researchers to two broad approaches (1) focusing on the game design aspects to increase engagement and muscle training and (2) concentrating on an accurate representation of prosthetic training tasks, to induce task-specific skill transfer. Previous studies indicate muscle training alone does not lead to improved prosthetic control without a transfer enabling task structure. However, literature shows an incredible surge in the number of game-based prosthetic training tools recently, focusing on the engagement without heeding the importance of transfer. This influx appears to have been strongly influenced by the availability of both soft- and hardware, specifically the launch of a commercially available acquisition device and freely available high profile game development engines. We finally share our perspective on the current trends and progress of serious games for prosthetic training.

Serious Assessments in Serious Games

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 49-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Hubal ◽  
Jamie Pina
Keyword(s):  
Performance Assessment ◽  
Real World ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Performance Criteria ◽  
Virtual Training ◽  
Training Performance ◽  
The Past ◽  
Adaptive Assessment ◽  
Assessment Techniques

In the past decade the serious games initiative has produced a number of games being used today as adjuncts to institutional training. Many of the games produced through the serious games initiative do not incorporate adaptive assessment to assure the acquisition of real-world skills from virtual training. Detailed performance assessment techniques are often lacking. Successful performance assessment in virtual training requires that students are placed into multiple simulated contexts and are challenged with different tasks to perform under various conditions, to specified standards. The aggregate of training situations must adequately cover the space of real-world situations. This article discusses important concepts related to virtual training performance assessment including critical tasks, performance criteria, forward recommendation, errors of commission, red screen alerts, reusable competency definitions, ill-structured domains, violent domains, and other game design templating. By integrating these concepts into serious game design, trainers can develop sufficiently varying simulated tasks to ensure that serious games meet real-world adaptive needs.

Development of Serious Games for Behaviour Change: A Practical Methodology (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Alberto Catalina Ortega ◽  
Svjetlana Kolić-Vehovec ◽  
Barbara Rončević Zubković ◽  
Sanja Smojver-Ažić ◽  
Tamara Martinac Dorčić
Keyword(s):  
Behaviour Change ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Intervention Mapping ◽  
Psychological Perspective ◽  
Game Development ◽  
Development Methodology ◽  
Intervention Mapping Protocol ◽  
Post Test

UNSTRUCTURED Objectives: The main purpose of the paper is to define a new methodology that allows the design of Serious Games that promote a behavioural change. The methodology is based on the Intervention Mapping Protocol (IMP) to define all the information and interventions and Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) to promote the behaviour change. Materials and methods: The methodology is based on the experience of game designers and psychologies within the eConfidence H2020 research project in which a new methodology was designed and implemented in two serious games. The game development methodology is described in six steps to be followed, with the psychological perspective integrated with the game design. Both games were tested in 10 schools with a pre and post-test for the data analysis. Results: Both games developed within the methodology present relevant findings on the change of behaviour of the users. Additionally, the proposed metric integrated allows a database improvement of the games to get better results. Conclusion: New methodology for design and study effectiveness of Serious Games that promote behavioural changes, was designed and integrated into two serious games that demonstrate changes in the users. The methodology could help other teams in the work of design and assess the effectiveness of a Serious Game for behavioural change.

Adapting game’s evaluation metrics to virtual reality serious games and its validation on “Hellblade: Senu’s Sacrifice” (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim Martinez ◽  
Maria Isabel Menéndez-Menéndez ◽  
David Checa ◽  
Andres Bustillo
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Raising Awareness ◽  
Quantitative Rating ◽  
Study Case ◽  
Definition Of

BACKGROUND The design of Virtual Reality Serious Games (VR-SG) is a subject still developing. One of its open developments is the definition of metrics to evaluate the fun and learning result. In this way, weaknesses and strengths in the design of serious games can be found for future works in this research field. OBJECTIVE This paper aims to create a metric that can be used to rate the gameplay of VR-SG. This metric’s novelty allows to evaluate the different fun and learning features and give them a quantitative rating. A study case shows the capability of implementing this evaluation to identify strengths and weaknesses of VR-SGs. METHODS The new VR-SG metric is developed on the basis of the Mechanics, Dynamics and Aesthetic (MDA) framework but including User Experience (UX) elements and adapting them to VR-SG. This metric includes 1) UX aspects: VR-headsets, training tutorials and interactive adaptions to avoid VR inconveniences; and 2) MDA aspects: exclusive VR audiovisual elements and its aesthetics interactions. RESULTS The selected indie serious game is Hellblade, developed to raise awareness about the difficulties of people suffering from psychosis with two versions: one for 2D-screens and the other for VR devices. The comparison of metric´s scores for both versions shows: 1) some VR dynamics increase the gameplay impact and therefore, the educational capacity; and 2) flaws in game design where the scores drop down. Some of these flaws are: reduced number of levels, missions and items, lack of a tutorial to enhance usability and lack of strategies and rewards in the long-term to increase motivation. CONCLUSIONS This metric allows to identify the elements of the gameplay and UX that are necessary to learn in VR experiences. The study case shows this research is useful to evaluate the educational utility of VR-SG. Further works will analyze VR applications to synthetize every game element influencing its intrinsic sensations. CLINICALTRIAL The trials have not been registered, as testing for this metric has not involved people with mental conditions or addressed other medical applications. Hellblade is a commercial video game that anyone can purchase and play. The trials have been carried out to obtain results on the gaming experience of different people in relation to the educational purpose of raising awareness of psychosis.

FrameIT: Detangling Knowledge Management from Game Design in Serious Games

2020 ◽  
pp. 173-189
Author(s):  
Michael Kohlhase ◽  
Benjamin Bösl ◽  
Richard Marcus ◽  
Dennis Müller ◽  
Denis Rochau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Serious Games

scholarly journals Integrating Health Behavior Theory and Design Elements in Serious Games

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colleen Cheek ◽  
Theresa Fleming ◽  
Mathijs FG Lucassen ◽  
Heather Bridgman ◽  
Karolina Stasiak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Behavior ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Behavior Change ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
User Perceptions ◽  
Design Elements ◽  
User Centered

Background Internet interventions for improving health and well-being have the potential to reach many people and fill gaps in service provision. Serious gaming interfaces provide opportunities to optimize user adherence and impact. Health interventions based in theory and evidence and tailored to psychological constructs have been found to be more effective to promote behavior change. Defining the design elements which engage users and help them to meet their goals can contribute to better informed serious games. Objective To elucidate design elements important in SPARX, a serious game for adolescents with depression, from a user-centered perspective. Methods We proposed a model based on an established theory of health behavior change and practical features of serious game design to organize ideas and rationale. We analyzed data from 5 studies comprising a total of 22 focus groups and 66 semistructured interviews conducted with youth and families in New Zealand and Australia who had viewed or used SPARX. User perceptions of the game were applied to this framework. Results A coherent framework was established using the three constructs of self-determination theory (SDT), autonomy, competence, and relatedness, to organize user perceptions and design elements within four areas important in design: computer game, accessibility, working alliance, and learning in immersion. User perceptions mapped well to the framework, which may assist developers in understanding the context of user needs. By mapping these elements against the constructs of SDT, we were able to propose a sound theoretical base for the model. Conclusions This study’s method allowed for the articulation of design elements in a serious game from a user-centered perspective within a coherent overarching framework. The framework can be used to deliberately incorporate serious game design elements that support a user’s sense of autonomy, competence, and relatedness, key constructs which have been found to mediate motivation at all stages of the change process. The resulting model introduces promising avenues for future exploration. Involving users in program design remains an imperative if serious games are to be fit for purpose.

scholarly journals Realizing a Mobile Multimodal Platform for Serious Games Analytics

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 19-48
Author(s):  
Laila Shoukry ◽  
Stefan Göbel
Keyword(s):  
Game Design ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Sensor Data ◽  
Educational Game ◽  
Evaluation Procedure ◽  
Multimodal Data ◽  
Design Elements ◽  
Implementation Challenges ◽  
Cognitive States ◽  
Game Developers

This paper presents the design and development of "StoryPlay Multimodal", a mobile multimodal analytics platform for the evaluation of Serious Games. It is intended to serve researchers, teachers and educational game developers as a means to assess their Serious Game Design. This is done by capturing, pre-processing, synchronizing and visualizing multimodal serious games analytics and mobile sensor data from playtesting sessions. By linking log data with multimodal data, it is possible to uncover relations between design elements, gameplay interactions, context parameters and affective and cognitive states. This is crucial for gaining full insight into the session, even if not present with the player at the same location. After discussing design requirements, the architecture of the software, the different modules, additional features, implementation challenges and solutions are presented. The testing settings, participants and results are also discussed to demonstrate how the evaluation procedure can be applied to deliver valuable outcomes for Serious Games Research.

scholarly journals Towards a Development Approach to Serious Games

2009 ◽  
pp. 215-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara de Freitas ◽  
Steve Jarvis
Keyword(s):  
Game Design ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Development Project ◽  
Game Based Learning ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
User Groups ◽  
Development Approach ◽  
Tools And Techniques ◽  
Future Work

This chapter reviews some of the key research supporting the use of serious games for training in work contexts. The review indicates why serious games should be used to support training requirements, and in particular identifies “attitudinal change” in training as a key objective for deployment of serious games demonstrators. The chapter outlines a development approach for serious games and how it is being evaluated. Demonstrating this, the chapter proposes a game-based learning approach that integrates the use of a “four-dimensional framework”, outlines some key games principles, presents tools and techniques for supporting data collection and analysis, and considers a six-stage development process. The approach is then outlined in relation to a serious game for clinical staff concerned with infection control in hospitals and ambulances, which is being developed in a current research and development project. Survey findings from the target user group are presented and the use of tools and techniques explained in the context of the development process. The chapter proposes areas for future work and concludes that it is essential to use a specific development approach for supporting consistent game design, evaluation and efficacy for particular user groups.

Contribution of the co.LAB Framework to the Collaborative Design of Serious Games: Mixed-Methods Validation Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominique Jaccard ◽  
Laurent Suppan ◽  
Félicia Bielser
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Multidisciplinary Design ◽  
Design Teams ◽  
Design And Development ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND Multidisciplinary collaboration is essential to the successful development of serious games, albeit difficult to achieve. The co.LAB serious game design framework was created to support collaboration within serious game multidisciplinary design teams. Its use has not yet been validated in a naturalistic context. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to perform a first assessment of the impact of the co.LAB framework on collaboration within multidisciplinary teams during serious game design and development. METHODS This was a mixed-methods study based on two serious game design projects in which the co.LAB framework was used. The first phase was qualitative and carried out using a general inductive approach. To this end, all members of the first serious game project team who used the co.LAB framework were invited to take part in a focus group session (N=6). Results inferred from qualitative data were then used to define a quantitative instrument (questionnaire) which was designed according to the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys. Members of both project teams (N=11) were then asked to answer the questionnaire. Quantitative results were reported as median [Q1;Q3] and appropriate non-parametric tests used to assess for between group differences. Finally, results gathered through the qualitative and quantitative phases were integrated. RESULTS In both phases, the participation rate was 100%. Verbatim transcripts were classified into 4 high level themes: influence on collaborative dimensions; impact on project course, monitoring and efficiency; qualitative perceptions of the framework; and influence of team composition on the use of the framework. Accordingly, the web-based questionnaire was then developed according to Burhardt's seven dimensions of collaboration. In both projects, the co.LAB framework had a positive impact on most dimensions of collaboration during the multidisciplinary design and development of serious games. When all collaborative dimensions were aggregated, the overall impact of the framework was rated on a scale from "-42" to "+42" (very negative to very positive). The overall score was 23 [20;27], with no significant difference between groups (P=.58). Most respondents also believed that all serious game design teams should include a member possessing a significant expertise in serious game design frameworks to guide the development process. CONCLUSIONS The co.LAB framework has a positive impact on collaboration within serious game development teams. However, expert guidance seems necessary to maximize development efficiency. Whether such guidance can be provided by means of a collaborative web platform remains to be determined.

Using a Story-Driven Board Game to Engage Students and Adults With Cultural Heritage

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Irini Malegiannaki ◽  
Thanasis Daradoumis ◽  
Symeon Retalis
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Research Methodology ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Cultural Knowledge ◽  
Board Game ◽  
Learning Gains ◽  
Cooperation And Competition ◽  
Cultural Content ◽  
Group Interviews

Serious games are used in the field of cultural heritage as a means to transmit cultural knowledge and enable an experiential contact with cultural content. The authors' aim is to investigate whether a game design exploiting the less used combination of complex storytelling, endogenous cooperation, and competition has the potential to sufficiently convey cultural content. More specifically, through four game interventions, it was investigated how a story-driven board game functions with teenage and adult users alike. A mixed research methodology was followed in all game sessions and data were collected through observation, semi-structured group interviews, and short questionnaires. Findings confirmed the playability of the suggested design and the potential to amuse players while providing learning gains and engagement with cultural content. Nevertheless, further evaluation in formal and non-formal educational settings is essential to validate our conclusions.

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