Senior Game Design

Henk Herman Nap (Vilans)

Wijnand IJsselsteijn (TU/e) – co-author

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• Centre of Expertise for long-term care

• Improve quality of care for

– Chronically ill

– Vulnerable older people

– People with disabilities

• For professionals & managers, insurers,

municipalities

• Innovation, research and development

• Dissemination of (established) good practices

• Implementation

Play & Gaming

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A game is a system in which players engage in an artificial conflict, defined by

rules, that results in a quantifiable outcome (Salen & Zimmerman, 2003).

4Fs: Play, to

learn how to

Feed, Flight,

Fight & …

enhance seniors’ leisure time

to communicate and connect with others

and to train cognitive and physical functioning

(see e.g.; Nap, Diaz-Orueta, González, Lozar-Manfreda, Facal, Dolničar, Oyarzun, Ranga, de Schutter, 2015; IJsselsteijn, Nap, de Kort &

Poels, 2007; De Schutter, 2011; Diaz-Orueta, Facal, Nap, & Ranga (2012); Khoo, Merritt & Cheok, 2009; Basak, Boot, Voss & Kramer,

2008)

Digital game play holds the

potential to

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enhance seniors’ leisure time

to communicate and connect with others

and to train cognitive and physical functioning

(see e.g.; Nap, Diaz-Orueta, González, Lozar-Manfreda, Facal, Dolničar, Oyarzun, Ranga, de Schutter, 2015; IJsselsteijn, Nap, de Kort &

Poels, 2007; De Schutter, 2011; Diaz-Orueta, Facal, Nap, & Ranga (2012); Khoo, Merritt & Cheok, 2009; Basak, Boot, Voss & Kramer,

2008)

Digital game play holds the

potential to

Age Invaders (mixedrealitylab – Khoo et al.,

2009)

17-10-2016

high enjoyment, both kids &

seniors appreciated social aspects

enhance seniors’ leisure time

to communicate and connect with others

and to train cognitive and physical functioning

(see e.g.; Zhang & Kaufman, 2016; Nap, Diaz-Orueta, González, Lozar-Manfreda, Facal, Dolničar, Oyarzun, Ranga, de Schutter, 2015;

IJsselsteijn, Nap, de Kort & Poels, 2007; De Schutter, 2011; Diaz-Orueta, Facal, Nap, & Ranga (2012); Khoo, Merritt & Cheok, 2009;

Basak, Boot, Voss & Kramer, 2008)

Digital game play holds the

potential to

17-10-2016

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17-10-2016

percentage senior gamers (50+)

in US increased from 9% in 1999

to 29% in 2011 to 26% in 2016 (ESA,

2007; ESA 2011)

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Human Factors

Motivations during parts of life – social play & competition

Design for cognitive training

17-10-2016

17-10-2016

Human Factors

“It is all clear. Well, except for ‘Around the world in 80

days’. I’m at Level 77, and it is so hard to pass. I’m pulled

back every time...” (CI - Elizabeth)

"Small playing cards, and that you cannot always enlarge them. That you are bound to a certain

time...time limit" (F1 - P1)

“Yes, I have. I play a game, but do not understand it. I win points, but

totally do not understand how...” (CI - Jane)

Age-related changes - vision

(Gerling, Schulte & Masuch, 2011; Bennett, Sekuler & Sekuler, 2007; Birren & Shaie, 2006; Brant & Fozard, 1990; Docampo

Rama, 2001; Echt, 2002; Mead, Lamson & Rogers, 2002; Nap, 2008; Stuart et al., 2003)

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Age-related changes – hearing

& motor control

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Age-related changes - cognition

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Customization – Personalized UI

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Entertainment Meaning

Pass Time

Maintain Health Brain Training

Quality of Life Social Interaction Fun

Competition Social Status

Narratives Winning

“I feel no need for that. I think it falls in the same category as

chatting. It is totally different from meeting people in real life.

Else you will still be lonely, and that is not what we are looking

for... (CI - Elizabeth)

"I like it. When my husband was still a live, we had a golf game, PGA golf...we played that with the

four of us, with two couples, taking turns, and that was exciting!" (F1 – P2)

"That is not my cup of teas, because then I'm committed to sit there at certain times" (P5)

Multiplayer (Nap et al. 2009)

Challenge + + +

Competition -

Competition

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Gajadhar, B.J., Nap, H.H., de Kort, Y.A.W., & IJsselsteijn, W.A.

(2010). Out of Sight, out of Mind: Co-Player effects on Seniors'

Player Experience. Fun and Games 2010 Conference, (Leuven,

Belgium, 15-17 September 2010), 74-83.

Social Presence

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Nick Yee (2016)

N = 140.000

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Cooking games Physical games

LEAGE (Nap et. al., 2015) Iterative User Centered Game Design

Brainstorm different representations

Choose a representation

Rough out interface style

Low fidelity prototypes

Limited field testing

Alpha tests – formative evaluation

redesign

Beta tests – summative evaluation

High fidelity prototypes

Working systems

Task centered walkthrough and redesign

1st Heuristic evaluation and redesign

Fine tune interface, screen design

2nd Heuristic evaluation and redesign

Usability testing and redesign

Medium fidelity prototypes

Early design

LEAGE (Nap et al., 2015)

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Rise of Nations (Basak, Boot, Voss & Kramer, 2008)

17-10-2016

23.5 hours of RTS gaming

seniors increased executive

control funtions like:

• working memory

• task switching

• inhibition

“…the cognitive benefits of digtal game training are

encouraging… review of Zhang & Kaufman (2016)”

…the aging brain still retains some degree of plasticity, and video

game training might be an effective intervention tool to improve

working memory and other cognitive functions in older adults (Toril, Reales, Mayas & Ballesteros, 2016)

Wrap up

• High potential of digital games in the life of seniors for

leisure, social connectedness, and training.

• Take into account human factors to support

accessibility of digital game play and interfaces.

• Solo play and co-located co-play are preferred & the

need for competition decreases with age.

• Design for training? Maybe not…

• Digital games hold the potential to train cognition, yet

more research is necessary.

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Generation Z (1995-2012): “Members of Generation Z are typically

thought of as being comfortable with technology, and interacting on

social media websites for a significant portion of their socializing.”

N = 3, Mean age = 7.3 years, 1 female

• Shut down the PC with the on-button – shut down via

start?

• Expect that a gamepad can be used to control the

operating system

• Do not understand the concept of saving a game

• Press buttons on the screen/monitor

• Graphics Settings? What?

• Double click a button?

• …

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• Dr. Henk Herman Nap, Senior

Advisor/Scientist Innovation in eHealth &

Health Policy Vilans

h.nap@vilans.nl | www.vilans.nl

www.gerotechnology.nl