DICE

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 39-53
Author(s):  
Damien Djaouti
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Design Methods ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Generic Model ◽  
Universal Series ◽  
Industry Professionals

This article deals with serious game design methods. More specifically, it focuses on the following question: is there any universal series of steps to design a serious game? Or is the availability of several different design methods unavoidable? To try to answer this question, we will study a corpus of ten design methods suited to Serious Games. Most of these theoretical tools are coming from or aimed to industry professionals. This literary review will allow us to perform a comparative analysis over the various steps used by these methods, in order to build a generic model for the design process of Serious Games: the Design / Imagine / Create / Evaluate (D.I.C.E.) model.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

From Learning to Assessment. Utilizing Blockchain Technologies in Gaming Environments to Secure Learning Outcomes and Test Results

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Black ◽  
Lloyd Donelan ◽  
Trevor Higgins ◽  
Nikolaus Koenig ◽  
Brenton Lenzen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Digital Games ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Iterative Design ◽  
Category System ◽  
Secure Learning

This study, pursues the following three goals, namely the introduction and discussion regarding Blockchain technologies in education in general and serious games in particular; a definition and proposal of a category system for digital games with the aim not only to teach but also to assess; and a description of the serious game Gallery Defender, one of the very first games which maps grades/certificates for the player/learner as well as further information for the teacher on Blockchain. This game is currently in the middle of an iterative design process and the authors describe the used Blockchain approach of the first iteration of the game to inspire further developments in this direction, especially for the Maltese audience, as Malta is perceived as the leading EU country in the field of Blockchain regulation.

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 Serious Game Design Process, Study Case: Sixth Grade Math

2014 ◽  
Vol 05 (09) ◽  
pp. 647-656
Author(s):  
Francisco J. Álvarez-Rodríguez ◽  
Arturo Barajas-Saavedra ◽  
Jaime Muñoz-Arteaga
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Sixth Grade ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Process Study ◽  
Study Case

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.

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