Crowdfunding Serious Games

2021 ◽  
pp. 112-129
Author(s):  
Christopher Buckingham ◽  
Vanissa Wanick
Keyword(s):  
Game Design ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Business Case ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Design Models ◽  
Robust Approach ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Target Markets

In serious game design, addressing issues related to the value and opportunity of the development of a game is vital in the early stages, creating a more structured and robust approach by exploring the business case. Present frameworks provide an in-depth analysis of game design models but often fail to state the case of predetermined target markets and new funding options for serious game design. Crowdfunding is an emerging funding path for these games and one that leads the vanguard in breaking with traditional forms of raising funding. This chapter aims to help in addressing an existing limitation in the literature by reviewing an existing framework on game design and blending this with the concept of crowdfunding. This chapter proposes the extension of a framework that reflects the possibility for early crowdfunding of a serious game.

Educational Serious Games Design

2019 ◽  
pp. 106-116
Author(s):  
Ilias Karasavvidis
Keyword(s):  
Game Design ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
The State ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Learning Sciences ◽  
Entertainment Industry ◽  
Learning Design ◽  
Design Models ◽  
Design Paradigm

Serious games are defined as games in which learning has priority over entertainment. While the entertainment industry is characterized by an established game design paradigm, the foregrounding of learning in serious games creates new demands. The design of effective serious games requires the pooling of expertise from both game design professionals and learning sciences professionals. One of the main problems the field of serious game design faces concerns the disconnect between game design and learning design. Several serious game design models have been proposed to bridge this gap. As these models have not been systematically reviewed, their contribution is not known. The chapter presents the state of the art for the field of serious game design and outlines five principal challenges. Next, 11 serious game design models are briefly introduced and reviewed. It is concluded that the degree to which the models meet the five challenges varies and that the field of serious game design is in a pre-paradigm state.

Educational Serious Games Design

2018 ◽  
pp. 3287-3295
Author(s):  
Ilias Karasavvidis
Keyword(s):  
Game Design ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
The State ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Learning Sciences ◽  
Entertainment Industry ◽  
Learning Design ◽  
Design Models ◽  
Design Paradigm

Serious games are defined as games in which learning has priority over entertainment. While the entertainment industry is characterized by an established game design paradigm, the foregrounding of learning in serious games creates new demands. The design of effective serious games requires the pooling of expertise from both game design professionals and learning sciences professionals. One of the main problems the field of serious game design faces concerns the disconnect between game design and learning design. Several serious game design models have been proposed to bridge this gap. As these models have not been systematically reviewed, their contribution is not known. The present chapter presents the state of the art for the field of serious game design and outlines five principal challenges. Next, 11 serious game design models are briefly introduced and reviewed. It is concluded that the degree to which the models meet the five challenges varies and that the field of serious game design is in a pre-paradigm state.

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.

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.

Balancing Fun and Learning in a Serious Game Design

Gamification ◽  
2015 ◽  
pp. 452-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Franzwa ◽  
Ying Tang ◽  
Aaron Johnson ◽  
Talbot Bielefeldt
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Guidance System ◽  
Stem Fields ◽  
Science And Engineering ◽  
Design Challenges ◽  
Narrative Learning

This article presents the underlying philosophy of Sustain City, an educational serious game system that engages students, particularly prospective and beginning science and engineering students, in a series of engineering design challenges. Various strategies implemented in Sustain City for achieving a balance of fun and learning are discussed, including narrative-learning synthesis, supplementing the player's actions with feedback, and the development of a sufficient guidance system. The evaluation of Sustain City deployment is also presented. The assessment confirms the values of the serious games in promoting students' interests and learning in STEM fields.

Hacking Well-Being

2019 ◽  
pp. 617-634
Author(s):  
Luca Argenton ◽  
Federica Pallavicini ◽  
Gabriele Barone ◽  
Andrea Zini ◽  
Giacomo Garcea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Integration ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Case Analysis ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Design Models ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Collective Experience ◽  
New Generation

Serious Games (SGs) have been able to shape new opportunities for human training and empowerment, imparting knowledge or skills in an engaging and motivating way to a new generation of learners. Further, they can be used to improve the quality of both individual and collective experience. In particular, SGs can nurture positive emotions promote engagement, as well as enhance social integration and connectedness. An in-depth analysis of each of these aspects will be presented in the chapter, with the support of concrete examples and case-analysis. Eventually, a game design practice will be discussed. Knowledge and awareness of hedonic, eudaimonic and social principles improve user-centered design models can be both fundamental to enhance learning effectiveness and retention and to improve players' well-being, contributing to the development of sustainable communities of practices.

Evaluation of the Player's Performance in Entrepreneurship Serious Games

2021 ◽  
pp. 148-170
Author(s):  
Fernando Almeida ◽  
Jorge Simões
Keyword(s):  
Serious Games ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Entrepreneurial Skills ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Innovative Model ◽  
Free Environment

Entrepreneurship serious games offer an innovative model for developing entrepreneurial skills with students. Furthermore, they provide a highly engaging and risk-free environment for students to become aware of the challenges posed in the early stages of building and developing a start-up. In this sense, it becomes relevant to explore the process of adopting this type of game in the classroom. This study aims to explore how the formative and summative components of an assessment are mapped into seven serious entrepreneurship games. Through this information, this study seeks to help instructors in the process of adopting a serious game and understanding how the evaluation of these games can be used in the context of an entrepreneurship course.

scholarly journals A New Methodology of Design and Development of Serious Games

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
André F. S. Barbosa ◽  
Pedro N. M. Pereira ◽  
João A. F. F. Dias ◽  
Frutuoso G. M. Silva
Keyword(s):  
Game Design ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Educational Content ◽  
Design And Development ◽  
Perfect Knowledge ◽  
Main Action ◽  
Educational Contents

The development of a serious game requires perfect knowledge of the learning domain to obtain the desired results. But it is also true that this may not be enough to develop a successful serious game. First of all, the player has to feel that he is playing a game where the learning is only a consequence of the playing actions. Otherwise, the game is viewed as boring and not as a fun activity and engaging. For example, the player can catch some items in the scenario and then separate them according to its type (i.e., recycle them). Thus, the main action for player is catching the items in the scenario where the recycle action is a second action, which is viewed as a consequence of the first action. Sometimes, the game design relies on a detailed approach based on the ideas of the developers because some educational content are difficult to integrate in the games, while maintaining the fun factor in the first place. In this paper we propose a new methodology of design and development of serious games that facilitates the integration of educational contents in the games. Furthermore, we present a serious game, called “Clean World”, created using this new methodology.

scholarly journals An Assessment of Serious Games Technology: Toward an Architecture for Serious Games Design

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walid Mestadi ◽  
Khalid Nafil ◽  
Raja Touahni ◽  
Rochdi Messoussi
Keyword(s):  
Game Design ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Functional Architecture ◽  
Do So

The design of an engaging and motivating serious game (SG) requires a strong knowledge of learning domain, pedagogy, and game design components, which are hard to be found and restrained by an individual or one entity. Therefore and in the light of this statement, the collaboration between domain content, pedagogical, and playful experts is required and crucial. Despite the fact that the existing models that support SG design are intended to have a combination of learning and fun, the design of SG remains difficult to achieve. It would then be appreciated to propose means and guidelines that facilitate this design. To do so, this paper proposes a taxonomy, which classifies models that treat SG design, and then presents an opening as a functional architecture for supporting SG conception, which promotes the separation during the design, the collaboration between different involved experts, and the reuse of prior expert productions.

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.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document