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 Towards a Serious Game to Help Students Learn Computer Programming

2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathieu Muratet ◽  
Patrice Torguet ◽  
Jean-Pierre Jessel ◽  
Fabienne Viallet
Keyword(s):  
Video Games ◽  
Computer Science ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Computer Programming ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Government Health ◽  
Defence Industry ◽  
Programming Skills

Video games are part of our culture like TV, movies, and books. We believe that this kind of software can be used to increase students' interest in computer science. Video games with other goals than entertainment, serious games, are present, today, in several fields such as education, government, health, defence, industry, civil security, and science. This paper presents a study around a serious game dedicated to strengthening programming skills. Real-Time Strategy, which is a popular game genre, seems to be the most suitable kind of game to support such a serious game. From programming teaching features to video game characteristics, we define a teaching organisation to experiment if a serious game can be adapted to learn programming.

Inclusive Education Through Accessible Mobile Serious Games

2022 ◽  
pp. 1050-1069
Author(s):  
Angel Jaramillo-Alcázar ◽  
Santiago Criollo-C ◽  
Sergio Luján-Mora
Keyword(s):  
Video Games ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Evaluation Tool ◽  
Good Practices ◽  
Accessibility Guidelines ◽  
Game Developers ◽  
People With Impairments

Accessibility has been defined as the ability of an object to be used despite the condition or disability of a person. However, it is a feature that often has not been taken into account in the design of products or services, and the mobile serious game market is no exception. Accessibility guidelines were defined through the consolidation of different initiatives and good practices of video game developers as well as groups interested in providing accessibility to video games. Once the guidelines were defined, a method for evaluating the accessibility of mobile serious games was developed and applied in a mobile serious game. The purpose of this document is to propose an evaluation tool for those who wish to develop accessible mobile serious games for people with impairments and improve inclusive education.

Inclusive Education Through Accessible Mobile Serious Games

2020 ◽  
pp. 38-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angel Jaramillo-Alcázar ◽  
Santiago Criollo-C ◽  
Sergio Luján-Mora
Keyword(s):  
Video Games ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Evaluation Tool ◽  
Good Practices ◽  
Accessibility Guidelines ◽  
Game Developers ◽  
People With Impairments

Accessibility has been defined as the ability of an object to be used despite the condition or disability of a person. However, it is a feature that often has not been taken into account in the design of products or services, and the mobile serious game market is no exception. Accessibility guidelines were defined through the consolidation of different initiatives and good practices of video game developers as well as groups interested in providing accessibility to video games. Once the guidelines were defined, a method for evaluating the accessibility of mobile serious games was developed and applied in a mobile serious game. The purpose of this document is to propose an evaluation tool for those who wish to develop accessible mobile serious games for people with impairments and improve inclusive education.

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 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.

The Way Ahead for Serious Games

2010 ◽  
pp. 305-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Cannon-Bowers
Keyword(s):  
Video Games ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
End Users ◽  
Design Features ◽  
Rigorous Evaluation ◽  
Success Stories ◽  
Community Of Researchers ◽  
Video Game Technology ◽  
The Way

Despite the fact that people have been playing games since before recorded history, the field of Serious Games—as a scientifically valid and viable area of investigation and application—is really in its infancy. In fact, the rise in availability and popularity of video games is a relatively recent phenomenon and actual applications of video game technology to serious pursuits are relatively rare. That said, I believe that Serious Games are coming into their own, and predict that the next few years will witness an explosion of new games, design features and guidelines, success stories, and scientific findings regarding their effectiveness. How quickly and fruitfully this happens depends, in part, on how well the community of researchers, designers, developers, evaluators, and end users can come together to systematically conceive of, and deploy games for serious purposes. Haphazard attempts—i.e., those that do not build on the findings of others’ experiences—will retard the speed at which viable games are consistently produced. Likewise, rigorous evaluation of those games that are developed cannot be neglected or future developers will likely fall prey to the same problems and pitfalls as their predecessors.

scholarly journals A Method to Develop Accessible Online Serious Games for People with Disabilities: A Case Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (22) ◽  
pp. 9584
Author(s):  
Angel Jaramillo-Alcázar ◽  
Paz Cortez-Silva ◽  
Marco Galarza-Castillo ◽  
Sergio Luján-Mora
Keyword(s):  
Video Games ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
People With Disabilities ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
The Other ◽  
Smart Devices ◽  
Learning Tools ◽  
Teaching Tools

Video games that are used as teaching tools are called serious games. However, there is an important factor that is not usually considered in the design of serious games— the inclusion of people with disabilities. Inclusion can be reached only if accessibility takes on an important role for all. On the other hand, new trends have resulted in different smart devices being used in classrooms. These devices also allow for applications, such as serious games, to be used to support people’s learning process. Despite this, these applications are generally not multi-platform and do not usually consider accessibility features for people with disabilities. This paper proposes a method to develop accessible online serious games that consider people with disabilities as potential users. The method is applied in the case study of an online serious game that teaches about the architecture of a computer in a fun and entertaining way. The method also presents and describes several guidelines to improve online serious game accessibility for people with disabilities. Finally, tests are conducted with some users to gather information about the online serious game and the accessibility features included. This study has important implications for the development of learning tools that consider people with disabilities.

scholarly journals Coffee Fun: Gamified Tool Based on the SUM Agile Development Methodology For Video Games

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (38) ◽  
pp. 159-169
Author(s):  
Manuel Esteban Jaramillo Reinel ◽  
Andrés Felipe Mera Tróchez ◽  
Katerine Márceles Villalba ◽  
Gabriel Elías Chanchí
Keyword(s):  
Video Games ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Agile Development ◽  
Educational Context ◽  
Simulation Environment ◽  
Development Methodology ◽  
Coffee Beans ◽  
Original Type ◽  
Design Construction

In recent years, serious games have been applied in different contexts of application, highlighting their contribution in the educational context. This original type article presents the design, construction and evaluation of the Coffee Fun video game. Coffee Fun is a video serious game aimed at children aged 8 to 12 years old; the game has as a theme the growing of coffee beans in a simulation environment in which each player helps the growth of this plant by a few tools provided at each level of the game; in the game, different scenarios related to coffee growing environments are presented for each of its stages in a series of levels that the player must overcome to complete the game through a process of learning and entertainment.

scholarly journals Discourses and Semantic Tropes of the Philosophical Explication of Video Games

Problemos ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 96 ◽  
pp. 172-183
Author(s):  
Dmitry Anatolyevich Belyaev ◽  
Ulyana Pavlovna Belyaeva
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Video Games ◽  
Modern Philosophy ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Special Importance ◽  
Historical Reconstruction ◽  
Philosophical Discourse ◽  
Research Results ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Dynamic Phenomena

The article explores one of the most remarkable and dynamic phenomena of modern technoculture – video games. It reconstructs the genesis of the philosophical discourse on video games, exposing the main difficulties arising in making the definitions. Special importance is attached to the critical comparative analysis of the major strategies for the philosophical explication of video games. With the aid of the method of comparative-historical reconstruction and a structuralist approach, the essential correlations between the essential definition of a video game and the ontological systems of Plato, the Gnostics, G. Berkeley, E. Kant, as well as post-modern philosophy was established. The research results in formulating a model-integrative definition of a video game.

scholarly journals A browser-based advergame as communication catalyst: types of communication in video games

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 75-94
Author(s):  
Heinrich Söbke ◽  
Thomas Bröker
Keyword(s):  
Video Games ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Interactive Media ◽  
Abstract Model ◽  
Online Game ◽  
Basic Definition ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Community Identification ◽  
Definition Of

Video games are a comprehensive, interactive media. Online games foster communication and extend the range of communication types considerably. We examine prevailing types of communication in video games using the browser-based advergame Fliplife. This game provides all a clear, delimited structure, an unpretentious user interface and the characteristics of a multiplayer online game. Thus Fliplife is an excellent frame to demonstrate the wide range of communication initiated in a video game. Among contained types of communication are verbal and non-verbal communications using graphics and actions/non-actions. Found communication typically serves controlling and coordination of the game play, however private discussions and social banter exist also besides demonstration of player status and community identification. In our work we draw on the basic definition of communication as conveying information from a sender to a recipient. We categorize the found types of communication according to an abstract model of communication derived from common definitions. The compiled enumeration of communication elements and possible manifestations represents a draft of categorization for communication in video games in general. Although it still needs extended validation, this enumeration demonstrates that video games provide frameworks which host and initiate a wide variety of communication. As a significant difference compared to other media, video games and their notion of interactivity allow players to communicate through action and to change roles of sender and receiver.

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