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.

scholarly journals The evolving definition of salivary gland stem cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilia Rocchi ◽  
Lara Barazzuol ◽  
Rob P. Coppes
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Salivary Gland ◽  
Adult Stem Cell ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Research Field ◽  
New Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Radiation Induced ◽  
Definition Of

AbstractDysfunction of the salivary gland and irreversible hyposalivation are the main side effects of radiotherapy treatment for head and neck cancer leading to a drastic decrease of the quality of life of the patients. Approaches aimed at regenerating damaged salivary glands have been proposed as means to provide long-term restoration of tissue function in the affected patients. In studies to elucidate salivary gland regenerative mechanisms, more and more evidence suggests that salivary gland stem/progenitor cell behavior, like many other adult tissues, does not follow that of the hard-wired professional stem cells of the hematopoietic system. In this review, we provide evidence showing that several cell types within the salivary gland epithelium can serve as stem/progenitor-like cells. While these cell populations seem to function mostly as lineage-restricted progenitors during homeostasis, we indicate that upon damage specific plasticity mechanisms might be activated to take part in regeneration of the tissue. In light of these insights, we provide an overview of how recent developments in the adult stem cell research field are changing our thinking of the definition of salivary gland stem cells and their potential plasticity upon damage. These new perspectives may have important implications on the development of new therapeutic approaches to rescue radiation-induced hyposalivation.

scholarly journals Semi-automatic construction of video game design prototypes with MaruGen

2020 ◽  
pp. 9-20
Author(s):  
Italo Felipe Capasso-Ballesteros ◽  
Fernando De la Rosa-Rosero
Keyword(s):  
Video Games ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Video Game Design ◽  
L Systems ◽  
Role Based ◽  
Game Designer ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Game Developers ◽  
Expression Mechanism

Machinations Ruleset Generator (MaruGen) is a semi-automatic system for the generation of mechanics, rules, spaces (environments), and missions for video games. The objective of this system is to offer an expression mechanism for the video game designer role based on the definition of rules, and the ability to explore the concepts of progression and emergence in video games by using a formal, usable, and defined tool to design games with innovative and complex elements, and behaviors defined from combinations of basic elements. Based on the expressed designs and with the participation of programmers and video game artists, MaruGen allows the generation of agile video game prototypes in the Unity game engine. These prototypes can be analyzed by the entire workgroup to look for games with diverse complexities that make them attractive to their users. MaruGen is based on the expression of rules on elements of interest in video games and the rewriting mechanism using L-Systems for the generation of procedural content. MaruGen was evaluated in the construction of the Cubic Explorer video game and tested by gamers and video game developers during the Game Jam Ludum Dare 38.

A Video Game, a Chinese Otaku, and Her Deep Learning of a Language

2011 ◽  
pp. 1039-1068
Author(s):  
Kim Feldmesser
Keyword(s):  
Instructional Design ◽  
Deep Learning ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Learning Objects ◽  
Police Force ◽  
Sound Learning

The design of serious games based on sound learning and instructional principles is important to ensure learning is integrated in the ‘game-play’. However, the process of achieving this is not yet fully understood, and research is hampered by the lack of practical demonstrations of how effective instructional design is when used alongside game design. This chapter provides an example of a successful application of instructional design to the development process of a serious game for traffic accident investigators in the Dubai police force. We use the findings from an experiment conducted for 56 police officers to analyze how learning objects are affected by the instructional principles used. To conclude the chapter, we describe the implications of the use of serious games in the police force for policymakers, educators, and researchers.

scholarly journals Congruity of Virtual Reality In-Game Advertising

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua M. Lupinek ◽  
Jinhee Yoo ◽  
Eugene A. Ohu ◽  
Eric Bownlee
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Marketing Research ◽  
Sport Marketing ◽  
Brand Awareness ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Traditional Media ◽  
Interactive Marketing ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
New Consumer

With virtual reality (VR) video game users beginning to see beta advertisements within game play, this conceptual article adds a needed digital and interactive marketing research foundation to the new construct of VR in-game advertising (IGA) activation. New consumer VR technology continues to disrupt traditional media as a $7.7 billion USD industry, that is expected to reach $57.55 billion by 2027. As such, marketing researchers must continue to evolve and understand the interdisciplinary VR research evolution as many VR users are likely to view IGA as intrusive. IGA and VR are not new constructs, but IGA within VR is unique as VR consumers have not yet experienced VR IGA intrusion. This article utilizes a sport marketing focus to provide an industry specific set of examples for the reader, however this article can be applied to broader fields including communications and interactive marketing. The main contributions of this article are 2-fold. First the development of a VR In-Game Advertising Congruity Framework is developed through a review of the literature and application to VR IGA in the topical areas of congruity of the IGA, interactivity of the IGA, intrusiveness of the IGA, realism of the experience, telepresence, brand awareness, and attitude toward the IGA. Secondly, a proper VR context definition of telepresence is provided through review of the literature that takes into account the interaction of a VR participant. This article aims to aid marketers in making informed IGA development decisions through strategic choice, via a centralized VR IGA congruity framework, that not only enhances brand awareness, but leaves participants with a favorable attitude toward the IGA to increase sales activation.

scholarly journals KinFit: A Factual Aerobic Sport Game with Stimulation Support

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 50 ◽  
Author(s):  
AbdelGhani Karkar ◽  
Somaya AlMaadeed ◽  
Rehab Salem ◽  
Mariam AbdelHady ◽  
Sara Abou-Aggour ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Video Games ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
User Studies ◽  
Immersive Virtual Reality ◽  
Health Awareness ◽  
Realistic Scenes

Overweight and obesity is a situation where a person has stacked too much fat that might affect negatively his/her health. Many people skip doing exercises due to several facts related to the encouragement, health-awareness, and time ar-rangement. Diverse aerobic video games have been proposed to help users in do-ing exercises. However, we observe some limitations in existing games. For in-stance, they don’t give correct scores while wearing Arabic traditional suits, they don’t consider showing immersive realistic scenes, and they don’t stimulate users to do exercises and keeping them encouraged to play more. We propose in this paper an aerobic video game that displays real scenes of aerobic coaches and keeps the user notified about doing exercises. It is a kind of serious games that allows users to learn aerobic movements and practice with aerobic coaches. It contains several exercises in which each can be played on normal screen or in fully immersive virtual reality (VR). While the user is playing, he/she can see the playing score with the estimated amount of burned calories. It stores the time when the user plays to remind him/her about doing exercises again. The profound user studies demonstrated the usability and effectiveness of the proposed game.

scholarly journals The Potential of Virtual Reality for Inducing Neuroplasticity in Children with Amblyopia

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
María B. Coco-Martin ◽  
David P. Piñero ◽  
Luis Leal-Vega ◽  
Carlos J. Hernández-Rodríguez ◽  
Joaquin Adiego ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Cortical Reorganization ◽  
Visual Rehabilitation ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Head Mounted Displays ◽  
Neuronal Connections ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
And Control

In recent years, virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a new safe and effective tool for neurorehabilitation of different childhood and adulthood conditions. VR-based therapies can induce cortical reorganization and promote the activation of different neuronal connections over a wide range of ages, leading to contrasted improvements in motor and functional skills. The use of VR for the visual rehabilitation in amblyopia has been investigated in the last years, with the potential of using serious games combining perceptual learning and dichoptic stimulation. This combination of technologies allows the clinician to measure, treat, and control changes in interocular suppression, which is one of the factors leading to cortical alterations in amblyopia. Several clinical researches on this issue have been conducted, showing the potential of promoting visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and stereopsis improvement. Indeed, several systems have been evaluated for amblyopia treatment including the use of different commercially available types of head mounted displays (HMDs). These HMDs are mostly well tolerated by patients during short exposures and do not cause significant long-term side effects, although their use has been occasionally associated with some visual discomfort and other complications in certain types of subjects. More studies are needed to confirm these promising therapies in controlled randomized clinical trials, with special emphasis on the definition of the most adequate planning for obtaining an effective recovery of the visual and binocular function.

scholarly journals A GAMING APPROACH FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE KNOWLEDGE AND DISSEMINATION

2019 ◽  
Vol XLII-2/W15 ◽  
pp. 421-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Di Paola ◽  
L. Inzerillo ◽  
Y. Alognaa
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Important Research ◽  
Popular Entertainment ◽  
Historical Building ◽  
Technical Problems ◽  
Adventure Game ◽  
Original Application

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> In these last years, video games have become one of the most popular entertainment for children/teenagers/adults thanks to their appealing and seductive features and, in this context, the Serious Games (SG) have become an important research field. The most popular SGs in Cultural Heritage (CH) used the historical building like scenario where the game is playing. In this paper we show the procedure to achieve a CH video game where the Cultural Heritage is the main actor and not the scenario of the game. Furthermore, the game is not a SG but an Action-Adventure Game (AAG) or Survival Game (SuG), in a largest heading it can be classified as Entertainment Games (EGs). The novelty of this study is not only in the original application of the CH within the AAG sector but also consists of the experimentation of the Virtual Reality (VR) algorithm and of the application of Augmented Reality (AR) within the VR scenario used in the form of an avatar. Furthermore, in this paper we overcome the technical problems due to the different size of the environment and the work art.</p>

scholarly journals The educational effectiveness of serious games

2019 ◽  
pp. 131-155
Author(s):  
Hassen Ben Rebah ◽  
Rachid Ben slama
Keyword(s):  
Video Games ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Computer Application ◽  
Competition Strategy ◽  
Educational Effectiveness ◽  
Learning Context ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Educational Field

A serious game is a computer application that combines a serious intention of a pedagogical, informative and a communicational type with playful springs of the video game (want to win, collaboration, competition, strategy). This two-dimensional approach has transformed the game from a simple means of entertainment to a robust-integrated tool growing in the world of training and learning. Serious games include the engagement of video games with the worlds of educational and computer simulation to integrate the user in a safe and entertaining learning environment. Many techniques have been used to ameliorate computer graphics and technology in the last few years to make this type of game more adaptive to the learning context. In this study, we are interested in presenting the pedagogical contributions of serious games as well as the different possible approaches of their integration in a learning situation and this is based on a variety of case studies and examples of experimentation. We will start with definitions of other video games that have some valuable characteristics of learning in order to contrast and relate them with serious games. Subsequently, we discuss the definition of serious game and the benefits of its use in education. We will, then, examine approaches to integrate serious games into classrooms with an emphasis on the assets and liabilities of each approach. To finish, we conclude on the trends that will follow the serious games technology in the educational field as well as some recommendations to be taken into consideration in order to better exploit these tools in a pedagogical context.

scholarly journals Patterns in Mainstream Programming Games

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-126
Author(s):  
Ander Areizaga Blanco ◽  
Henrik Engström
Keyword(s):  
Game Design ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Design Patterns ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Good Representation ◽  
Programming Education ◽  
The Public ◽  
Science Curricula ◽  
Puzzle Games ◽  
Game Design Patterns

Studies have found serious games to be good tools for programming education. As an outcome from such research, several game solutions for learning computer programming have appeared. Most of these games are only used in the research field where only a few are published and made available for the public. There are however numerous examples of programming games in commercial stores that have reached a large audience.This article presents a systematic review of publicly available and popular programming games. It analyses which fundamental software development concepts, as defined by the ACM/IEEE Computer Science Curricula, are represented in these games and identifies game design patterns used to represent these concepts.This study shows that fundamental programming concepts and programming methods have a good representation in mainstream games. There is however a lack of games addressing data structures, algorithms and design. There is a strong domination of puzzle games. Only two of the 20 studied games belong to a different genre. The eleven game design patterns identified in this study have potential to contribute to future efforts in creating engaging serious games for programming education.

scholarly journals Perception of game-based rehabilitation in upper-limb prosthetic training: a survey of users and researchers

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Alexander Garske ◽  
Matthew Dyson ◽  
Sigrid Dupan ◽  
Kianoush Nazarpour
Keyword(s):  
Motor Learning ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Sample Population ◽  
Multiple Forms ◽  
Opinion Survey ◽  
Prosthetic Rehabilitation ◽  
Open Questions

Background: Serious games have been investigated for their use in multiple forms of rehabilitation for decades. The rising trend to use games for physical fitness in more recent years has also provided more options and garnered more interest for their use in physical rehabilitation and motor learning. In this paper, we report the results of an opinion survey of serious games in upper limb prosthetic training. Objective: This study investigates and contrasts the expectations and preferences for game based prosthetic rehabilitation of people with limb difference and researchers. Methods: Both participant groups answered open and closed questions as well as a questionnaire to assess their user types. The distribution of the user types was compared with a Pearson′s χ2 test against a sample population. The data was analysed with the thematic framework method; answers fell within the themes of usability, training, and game design. Researchers shared their views on current challenges and what could be done to tackle these. Results: A total of 14 people with limb difference and 12 researchers took part in this survey. The open questions resulted in an overview of the different views on prosthetic training games between the groups. The user types of people with limb difference and researchers were both significantly different from the sample population with χ2=12.31 and χ2=26.50, respectively. Conclusions: We found that the respondents show a general willingness and tentative optimism towards the topic, but also acknowledge hurdles limiting the adoption of these games by both clinics and users. Results indicate a noteworthy difference between researchers and limb different people in their game preferences, which could lead to design choices that do not represent the target audience. Furthermore, focus on long-term in-home experiments is expected to shed more light onto the validity of games in upper limb prosthetic rehabilitation.

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