Impacts of Forced Serious Game Play on Vulnerable Subgroups

2013 ◽  
pp. 158-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carrie Heeter ◽  
Yu-Hao Lee ◽  
Brian Magerko ◽  
Ben Medler
Keyword(s):  
Gender Difference ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Game Play ◽  
Optimal Amount ◽  
Casual Games ◽  
Negative Effect

Three vulnerable subgroups of players (non-gamers, resistant players, and females) were studied to understand how each approaches and plays serious games. The authors explore forced (required) play using four different online casual games. Their research strongly suggests that the most important threat to a serious game’s impact is when players dislike the game. Serious games are less effective for players who dislike a game and most effective for those who like the game. Non-gamers were at a distinct disadvantage as far as gameplay performance. They experienced a more negative effect in two of the four games. Finally, males tended to seek more difficult challenges in games than females. The optimal amount of challenge may be the most important gender difference to consider when designing serious games.

Impacts of Forced Serious Game Play on Vulnerable Subgroups

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 34-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carrie Heeter ◽  
Yu-Hao Lee ◽  
Brian Magerko ◽  
Ben Medler
Keyword(s):  
Gender Difference ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Game Play ◽  
Optimal Amount ◽  
Casual Games ◽  
Negative Effect

Three vulnerable subgroups of players (non-gamers, resistant players, and females) were studied to understand how each approaches and plays serious games. The authors explore forced (required) play using four different online casual games. Their research strongly suggests that the most important threat to a serious game’s impact is when players dislike the game. Serious games are less effective for players who dislike a game and most effective for those who like the game. Non-gamers were at a distinct disadvantage as far as gameplay performance. They experienced a more negative effect in two of the four games. Finally, males tended to seek more difficult challenges in games than females. The optimal amount of challenge may be the most important gender difference to consider when designing serious games.

scholarly journals Dive Deeper

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (CHI PLAY) ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Isabelle Kniestedt ◽  
Marcello A. Gómez Maureira ◽  
Iulia Lefter ◽  
Stephan Lukosch ◽  
Frances M. Brazier
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Perceived Value ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Game Mechanics ◽  
Casual Games ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Player Behaviour

Validation of serious games tends to focus on evaluating their design as a whole. While this helps to assess whether a particular combination of game mechanics is successful, it provides little insight into how individual mechanics contribute or detract from a serious game's purpose or a player's game experience. This study analyses the effect of game mechanics commonly used in casual games for engagement, measured as a combination of player behaviour and reported game experience. Secondly, it examines the role of a serious game's purpose on those same measures. An experimental study was conducted with 204 participants playing several versions of a serious game to explore these points. The results show that adding additional game mechanics to a core gameplay loop did not lead to participants playing more or longer, nor did it improve their game experience. Players who were aware of the game's purpose, however, perceived the game as more beneficial, scored their game experience higher, and progressed further. The results show that game mechanics on their own do not necessarily improve engagement, while the effect of perceived value deserves further study.

The Design, Play, and Experience Framework

2009 ◽  
pp. 1010-1024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian M. Winn
Keyword(s):  
User Experience ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Design Approach ◽  
Common Language ◽  
Game Play ◽  
Formal Approach ◽  
Games For Learning ◽  
Formal Design

This chapter introduces a framework for the design of serious games for learning, called the design, play, and experience framework. The author argues that the great potential of serious games will not be realized without a formal design approach. To that end, the author presents and thoroughly explains the design, play, and experience framework which provides a formal approach to designing the learning, storytelling, game play, user experience, and technology components of a serious game. The author concludes by detailing how the framework provides a common language to discuss serious game design, a methodology to analyze a design, and a process to design a serious game for learning.

Expansão Tecnológica de um Serious Game Voltado ao Ensino de Geometria Plana Baseado no Geoplano

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Ingrid Luana Almeida Da Silva ◽  
Deynne A Silva ◽  
Ronei M. Moraes ◽  
Liliane S. Machado
Keyword(s):  
Serious Games ◽  
Naive Bayes ◽  
Naïve Bayes ◽  
Serious Game

Serious Games são uma categoria especial de jogos que possuem um propósito que vai além da diversão, e por isso podem ser utilizados para promover propaganda, conscientização, ensino e treinamento. O GeoplanoPEC e o GeoplanoMob são serious games educacionais, baseados nas atividades realizadas em um tabuleiro chamado Geoplano, desenvolvidos pelo Laboratório de Tecnologias para o Ensino Virtual e Estatística (LabTEVE) da UFPB. Esses serious games buscam apoiar o aprendizado de geometria plana e o GeoplanoPEC foi desenvolvido considerando as configurações dos computadores das escolas públicas da Paraíba, enquanto que o GeoplanoMob foi desenvolvido considerando os telefones celulares com capacidade de executar aplicativos gráficos. Na época em que os serious games foram implementados, essas plataformas não possuíam muita capacidade computacional e, devido a essa limitação, os jogos tiveram que direcionar sua jogabilidade para o trabalho com perímetros de quadrados. No GeoplanoPEC, a disputa acontece através do desenho de quadrados com perímetro obtido através da multiplicação da face de dois dados e pode ocorrer entre dois jogadores ou entre um jogador e o computador, no qual as jogadas do computador são realizadas por uma inteligência baseada em redes Bayesianas do tipo Naive Bayes. O GeoplanoMob foi desenvolvido para uma plataforma ainda mais limitada quando comparada aos computadores pessoais. Dessa forma não foi possível implantar o sistema inteligente naquela versão do jogo, ocasionando numa alteração no desafio que passou a consistir na realização individual de desenhos a partir de instruções fornecidas por um personagem do jogo. O avanço tecnológico das plataformas móveis e a proliferação destas no ambiente escolar tornou possível a elaboração de uma nova versão dos jogos para a plataforma Android, que expande as funcionalidades das versões anteriores. Com o objetivo de ampliar o escopo de sua utilização nas escolas, a nova versão explora o perímetro e a área de formas geométricas como quadrados, losangos, retângulos, paralelogramos, trapézios e triângulos.

Serious Games as a Complementary Tool for Social Skill Development in Young People: A Systematic Review of the Literature

2021 ◽  
pp. 104687812110312
Author(s):  
Lucy R. Zheng ◽  
Catherine M. Oberle ◽  
W. A. Hawkes-Robinson ◽  
Stéphane Daniau
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Social Skills ◽  
Young People ◽  
Social Skill ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Skill Development ◽  
The United States ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Social Skill Development

Background The use of games for social skill development in the classroom is accelerating at a tremendous rate. At the same time, the research surrounding games designed for teaching social skills remains fragmented. This systematic review summarizes the current existing literature on social skill serious games for young people ages 5 to 19 and is the first review of serious games to note the demographic and geographic component of these studies. Method This review included papers that: evaluated a game designed to teach social skills; included measurable, quantitative outcomes; have a translation or be published in English; were peer-reviewed; date from January 2010 to May 2020; and have a nonclinical study population between ages of 5 to 19. Keywords were obtained from the CASEL 5 framework. Results Our findings are mixed but suggest that serious games may improve social skills when used alongside in-person discussion. We also found potential effects of the length of time of gameplay, intervention, and follow-up on social skill serious game effectiveness. Although this review found promising research conducted in East Asian countries and with minority samples in the United States, the majority of social skill serious game research takes place in the United States and Australia, with unreported demographic information and white-majority samples. Conclusions Due to the limited number of published studies in this area and studies lacking methodological rigor, the effectiveness of using games to teach social skills and the impact of background on social skill learning require further discussion.

scholarly journals Exploiting Textured 3D Models for Developing Serious Games

2015 ◽  
Vol XL-5/W7 ◽  
pp. 249-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Kontogianni ◽  
A. Georgopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Serious Games ◽  
Laser Scanner ◽  
3D Models ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Educational Game ◽  
Future Perspective ◽  
Production Methods ◽  
Military Applications ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Textured Models

Digital technologies have affected significantly many fields of computer graphics such as Games and especially the field of the Serious Games. These games are usually used for educational proposes in many fields such as Health Care, Military applications, Education, Government etc. Especially Digital Cultural Heritage is a scientific area that Serious Games are applied and lately many applications appear in the related literature. Realistic 3D textured models which have been produced using different photogrammetric methods could be a useful tool for the creation of Serious Game applications in order to make the final result more realistic and close to the reality. The basic goal of this paper is how 3D textured models which are produced by photogrammetric methods can be useful for developing a more realistic environment of a Serious Game. The application of this project aims at the creation of an educational game for the Ancient Agora of Athens. The 3D models used vary not only as far as their production methods (i.e. Time of Flight laser scanner, Structure from Motion, Virtual historical reconstruction etc.) is concerned, but also as far as their era as some of them illustrated according to their existing situation and some others according to how these monuments looked like in the past. The Unity 3D<sup>®</sup> game developing environment was used for creating this application, in which all these models were inserted in the same file format. For the application two diachronic virtual tours of the Athenian Agora were produced. The first one illustrates the Agora as it is today and the second one at the 2nd century A.D. Finally the future perspective for the evolution of this game is presented which includes the addition of some questions that the user will be able to answer. Finally an evaluation is scheduled to be performed at the end of the project.

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 Serious Games: herramientas para el aprendizaje / An Experience of Serious Game as a Learning Tool

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Noemí Pena Miguel ◽  
Máximo Sedano-Hoyuelos
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Vocational Training ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Educational Games ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Added Value ◽  
School Students

ABSTRACTThe introduction of new technologies in society has created a need for interactive contents that can make the most of the potential that technological advances offer. Serious games as educational games are such content: they can be defined as video games or interactive applications whose main purpose is to provide not only entertainment but also training and enhancing skills in areas such as health, marketing, education, etc. The game was associated with childhood and youth but serious games search for promoting, strengthening and giving added value to the teaching and learning process for all ages. One of the most crucial factors for successful educational games is their ability to maintain an individual learner’s motivation and interest by adapting the individual learning and gaming experience to each learner’s needs, preferences, goals, and abilities. For this reason, Serious Games need tutoring and dynamization. The aim of this paper is to analyze a specific experience success in the use of Serious Games for training. It details how this serious game can enhance different skills in each of the phases of the game. This Serious Game was used to promote innovation among High School students and students at Vocational Training Centres. The users must manage a supermarket trying to get the best results possible by taking a series of both strategic and operational decisions. Through an econometric regression model, we have analyzed the results of its use by a group of High School students and Vocational Training School students.RESUMENLos Serious Games son juegos cuyo fin va más allá del mero entretenimiento y persiguen transmitir contenidos, valores, potenciar habilidades y competencias e incluso servir como herramienta de marketing al utilizarse como medio publi-citario. En los últimos años, las TIC han ido tomando protagonismo en el ámbito educativo y formativo y los Serious Games están jugando un papel fundamental como herramientas formativas. El juego anteriormente se asociaba a las etapas de la infancia y la juventud pero los Serious Games pretenden potenciar, reforzar y dar un valor añadido importante al proceso de enseñanza y al proceso de aprendizaje para todas las edades. No obstante, para que los Serious Games alcancen todo su potencial como herramienta en el proceso de aprendizaje, es necesario complementarlos con una buena tutorización y dinami-zación que guíe dicho aprendizaje. Sin duda, sin la labor tutorial, los Serious Games pierden eficacia en su objetivo de poten-ciar el aprendizaje. El objeto de estudio del presente trabajo es analizar una experiencia de éxito concreta en el uso de los Serious Games para el ámbito formativo. En él se detalla cómo a través de un juego que se ha utilizado entre los alumnos de Bachillerato y Formación Profesional se pueden potenciar diferentes competencias en cada una de las fases del mismo. En él, el usuario debe gestionar un supermercado tratando de obtener los mejores resultados posibles tomando una serie de decisio-nes tanto estratégicas como operativas. A través de un modelo econométrico de regresión de elaboración propia analizaremos los resultados obtenidos en su utilización por un grupo de estudiantes de Formación Profesional y Bachillerato. Contacto principal: [email protected]

scholarly journals Editorial

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro De Gloria
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Game Studies ◽  
The Third ◽  
Engineering Approach ◽  
Homogeneous Data

The third issue of the International Journal of Serious Games (IJSG) introduces a new series of articles about serious game studies. the goal is to develop and support an “engineering” approach, systemizing the studies, allowing comparative analysis and homogeneous data collection. Other scientific and technological articles are also present in the issue.

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.

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