GAMES TRANSFORMTHEIR PLAYERS2015-04-23 ~ Michele Bianchi

Presentation outline

Possible positive outcomes from games

The lens of Transformation

Possible negative outcomes from games

CAN GAMES BE BAD FOR YOU?Taking a look at possible negative outcomes

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Bloodborne - 2015 From Software

Games and negative outcomes

People always have been afraid of new thing, however games are not new and they all present dangers.People, however, aremostly preoccupiedby Violence and Addiction

Negative outcome: Violence

Fears

People are afraid that games with too realistic violence can make players desensitised towards real-world violence or, worse, make them find pleasure in being violent.

Adult players

Players, once they scratch the aesthetical surface of the game, start playing with the mechanics, discerning fantasy from reality.

A game is just a game

Young players

Kids require some levels of violent play for a healthy psychological development.

However certain imagery can still trouble kids, that is why ERSB/PEGI/CERO

exist.

Negative outcome: addiction

Another negative outcome that scares people is addiction: games are enjoyable, making players unable to stop playing.

This is true for all games, but it is merely a reflection of already present psychological instabilities.

However game designer should create games that fit into a well-balanced life, in order not to foster addictive behaviours.

““On a sunny day, play outside.”

Shigeru Miyamoto

CAN GAMES BE GOOD FOR YOU?Let us now take a look at how they can be good

II

Journey - 2012 Thatgamecompany

Positive outcomes: Emotional Maintenance

Cheer up

Gain perspective

Vent anger and frustration

Build confidence

Relax

Positive outcomes: Connecting

Connecting with other people is hard. Games can provide a way to break the ice and help in providing thing to talk with others

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn - 2013 SqureEnix

Positive outcomes: Exercise

Games, thanks to their problem-solving nature, can provide players with the reason to engage in physical and mental training.

Catherine - 2011 Atlus

Positive outcomes: Education

Education closely reminds of a game, with its own rules and goals.

Kerbal Space Program - 2015 Squad

Positive outcomes: Emotional Maintenance

Variable pacing

Low exposition to videogames

Time constraints

Good educational games are hard to make

Positive outcomes: videogames as tools for education

Problem solving

Systems of relationships

Facts

New insight

Curiosity

Videogames as tools: Facts

Videogames can help learning things by integrating drills and rewards for having learned specific notions.

Persona 4: Dancing all Night - 2015 Atlus

Videogames as tools: Problem Solving

Videogames require players to solve problems while presenting this task in a playful way. Game simulation of real world problems could serve as final exams.

Portal 2 - 2011 Valve Corporation

Videogames as tools: Systems of Relationships

Videogames can simulate complex systems of relationships and not only teach students how they work, but let them show they have understood how they work.

Peacemaker - 2007 Impact Games

Videogames as tools: New Insights

As they can simulates Systems of Relationships games can show new points of view on how things work, providing new insights to players

Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward - 2012 Chunsoft

Videogames as tools: Curiosity

People who are curious have an advantage at learning as they are internally pushed to learn more. Schell defines play as “manipulation that indulges curiosity”, making games potentially invaluable for teaching

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - 2012 Bethesda

LENS OF TRANSFORMATIONA simple heuristic to design games that transform players

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Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain - 2015 Konami

LENS OF TRANSFORMATION

Game designers create experiences for their players.

When designing a game think about how it can change your players, for the better or for the worse.

Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) - 2014 Upper One Games LLC.

Thanks!

ANY QUESTIONS?@Jazzinghen

michele.bianchi@unitn.it / jazzinghen@gmail.com

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