serious games: from serious fun to serious impact dr. michael katchabaw department of computer...

Serious Games:Serious Games:From Serious Fun toFrom Serious Fun toSerious ImpactSerious Impact

Dr. Michael KatchabawDr. Michael Katchabaw

Department of Computer ScienceDepartment of Computer Science

The University of Western OntarioThe University of Western Ontario

E-mail: [email protected]: [email protected]

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OutlineOutline

What are Serious Games?What are Serious Games? Serious Games in the ClassroomSerious Games in the Classroom Developing Serious GamesDeveloping Serious Games Resources for DevelopmentResources for Development

ProgrammingProgramming Content and AssetsContent and Assets WebsitesWebsites

Concluding RemarksConcluding Remarks

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What are Serious What are Serious Games?Games?

The premise is to apply game design, The premise is to apply game design, technologies, and skills to non-technologies, and skills to non-entertainment applications. This entertainment applications. This includes:includes: Medical and scientific applications.Medical and scientific applications. Educational applications.Educational applications. Social and public policy applications.Social and public policy applications. Business and management applications.Business and management applications. Military applications.Military applications. Plus many other types of simulations and Plus many other types of simulations and

applications.applications.

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What are Serious What are Serious Games?Games? In the end, serious games are In the end, serious games are

essentially participatory simulations essentially participatory simulations capable of meeting a variety of capable of meeting a variety of objectives.objectives. They can educate and inform, investigate They can educate and inform, investigate

issues, provide commentary, disseminate issues, provide commentary, disseminate messages, spread awareness, and so on.messages, spread awareness, and so on.

They are interactive, requiring They are interactive, requiring involvement and commitment from the involvement and commitment from the player, who plays a direct role in affecting player, who plays a direct role in affecting the outcome and experience delivered.the outcome and experience delivered.

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What are Serious What are Serious Games?Games? The study of serious games is a rapidly The study of serious games is a rapidly

growing and evolving field.growing and evolving field. The serious games industry has similar The serious games industry has similar

research and development needs as research and development needs as the entertainment games industry.the entertainment games industry. It is in an earlier stage of development,It is in an earlier stage of development,

but is attracting considerable attention.but is attracting considerable attention. There is a real need for professionals There is a real need for professionals

capable of designing and building serious capable of designing and building serious games and appropriate supporting games and appropriate supporting technologies.technologies.

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What are Serious What are Serious Games?Games?

Screenshots from example serious games from the Serious Games Summit

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Serious Games in the Serious Games in the ClassroomClassroom Serious games have the potential to

provide interesting and challenging classroom projects to computer science classes.

These projects can both engage and educate students, while tackling real-world problems in unique and innovative ways.

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Serious Games in the Serious Games in the ClassroomClassroom Studying the development of serious Studying the development of serious

games gives students a chance to:games gives students a chance to: Study challenging computing problems.Study challenging computing problems. Investigate issues and problems not availableInvestigate issues and problems not available

elsewhere in existing curriculum.elsewhere in existing curriculum. Do so in interesting and engaging fashion.Do so in interesting and engaging fashion. Express their creativity and ingenuity.Express their creativity and ingenuity. Work in interdisciplinary and team settings.Work in interdisciplinary and team settings. Make an impact in something of interest and Make an impact in something of interest and

concern both to themselves and others.concern both to themselves and others.

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Serious Games in the Serious Games in the ClassroomClassroom Our own experiences with serious

games at Western have been quite positive. We have run several workshops for We have run several workshops for

elementary and secondary students onelementary and secondary students onserious games design.serious games design.

Several serious games have been created Several serious games have been created in projects in our game development in projects in our game development courses.courses.

Senior students are currently developing an Senior students are currently developing an environmentally-themed serious game as environmentally-themed serious game as their capstone project, for entry into the their capstone project, for entry into the Xbox 360 Games for Change Challenge.Xbox 360 Games for Change Challenge.

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Serious Games in the Serious Games in the ClassroomClassroom

Screen shot from TheMisadventures of State-Man.This action-adventure gamewas developed at Western

in early 2005. Itsenvironmental mechanicsare now being used as a

basis for a newenvironmentally-themedgame under developed

at Western for entry intothe Xbox 360 Games for

Change Challenge.

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Developing Serious Developing Serious GamesGames

Serious games are still games and so Serious games are still games and so they share many of the same they share many of the same development considerations as development considerations as entertainment games.entertainment games. Typically, development will require a large Typically, development will require a large

amount of programming effort.amount of programming effort. Programming effort can be reduced, Programming effort can be reduced,

however, through the use of engines and however, through the use of engines and middleware.middleware.

Either way, content and assets will need to Either way, content and assets will need to be linked to this programming for ultimate be linked to this programming for ultimate presentation in the game.presentation in the game.

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Developing Serious Developing Serious GamesGames

In the end, though, since the goal is no In the end, though, since the goal is no longer entertainment, there are some longer entertainment, there are some differences as well to be aware of.differences as well to be aware of. These differences are most apparent These differences are most apparent

during concept development and design.during concept development and design. Keep this in mind:Keep this in mind:

““Don’t try and peel the icing off the video Don’t try and peel the icing off the video game cake and lay it over the liver of game cake and lay it over the liver of learning and expect it to taste the same.”learning and expect it to taste the same.”

- David Thomas, of - David Thomas, of Buzzcut.com Buzzcut.com

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Concept DevelopmentConcept Development

Getting started in the process can be Getting started in the process can be more difficult than one might think.more difficult than one might think. Students might have a lot of experience Students might have a lot of experience

with games as entertainment, but they with games as entertainment, but they have not likely had much exposure to have not likely had much exposure to serious games.serious games.

Consequently, assistance might be Consequently, assistance might be necessary in getting the process necessary in getting the process started, and formulating the initial started, and formulating the initial conceptconceptbehind the game.behind the game.

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It might help to have students study It might help to have students study serious games in general first.serious games in general first. Wikipedia has many interesting articles.Wikipedia has many interesting articles. seriousgames.org and seriousgames.org and

gamesforchange.org are community gamesforchange.org are community sites with lots of information.sites with lots of information.

Having students play existing serious Having students play existing serious games might provide some ideas.games might provide some ideas.

Design workshops and brainstorming Design workshops and brainstorming sessions in groups might help too.sessions in groups might help too.

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Screen shot from Food Force. Produced by the United Nation’s World FoodProgramme, this game examines humanitarian relief efforts. With millions of

players from dozens of countries, this game has had quite an impact.More information and downloads at: http://www.food-force.com.

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Screen shot from Darfur is Dying. This game, developed by mtvU, wasinspired in part by the success of Food Force. The game provides

a window into the experience of refugees in the Darfur region of Sudan.More information and the game at: http://www.darfurisdying.com.

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Ultimately, formulating the initial Ultimately, formulating the initial concept can be just a few questions concept can be just a few questions away.away.

Ask students what is important to:Ask students what is important to: Themselves?Themselves? Friends and family?Friends and family? Their school?Their school? Their community?Their community? Their country?Their country? Humanity as a whole?Humanity as a whole? The world?The world?

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Designing Serious Designing Serious GamesGames From this initial concept, the students From this initial concept, the students

will need to figure out what their will need to figure out what their serious game is all about.serious game is all about.

This starts with a basic description of This starts with a basic description of the various elements of the game and the various elements of the game and several iterations of filling in details.several iterations of filling in details.

Once enough information has been Once enough information has been provided, the game is ready to be provided, the game is ready to be produced.produced.

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Designing Serious Designing Serious GamesGames Required information includes:Required information includes:

Target sector of the game. (Medical, scientific, Target sector of the game. (Medical, scientific, public policy, corporate, military …)public policy, corporate, military …)

Objectives. (What is the player expected to take Objectives. (What is the player expected to take away from the game when done?)away from the game when done?)

Gameplay. (What does the player do in the Gameplay. (What does the player do in the game?)game?)

Story. (Plot, setting, characters, if any …)Story. (Plot, setting, characters, if any …) Structure. (How does the game progress?)Structure. (How does the game progress?) Puzzles and obstacles. (What gets in the Puzzles and obstacles. (What gets in the

player’s way of their goals in playing the game?)player’s way of their goals in playing the game?) Interface. (How does the player play the game?)Interface. (How does the player play the game?) A title might be good too! A title might be good too!

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Designing Serious Designing Serious Games:Games:Knowing the Subject Knowing the Subject MatterMatter In designing a serious game, it is of In designing a serious game, it is of

critical importance to know the subject critical importance to know the subject matter very well.matter very well. You must know this at the start of the You must know this at the start of the

project and build the game around it, and project and build the game around it, and not the other way around!not the other way around!

Otherwise, how do you create the right Otherwise, how do you create the right experience and meet your objectives?experience and meet your objectives?

Doing a bad job here, in some cases, Doing a bad job here, in some cases, might be worse than doing nothing at might be worse than doing nothing at all.all.

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Designing Serious Designing Serious Games:Games:Knowing the AudienceKnowing the Audience A good designer always has an idea of A good designer always has an idea of

what is going on in a player’s head.what is going on in a player’s head. Know what they want and do not want.Know what they want and do not want. Know what they expect and do not expect.Know what they expect and do not expect. Know what they are capable of and what Know what they are capable of and what

they are not capable of.they are not capable of. A designer out of touch with the A designer out of touch with the

audience has a much harder time of audience has a much harder time of ensuring the game’s objectives are ensuring the game’s objectives are met.met.

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Designing Serious Designing Serious Games:Games:Knowing the AudienceKnowing the Audience

On left, Captain Planet and the Planeteers. On the right, Captain Planetfrom a segment on Robot Chicken. It doesn’t take much to figure out

which version might appeal better to today’s youth. That doesn’t makeit better at conveying the message necessarily though …

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Designing Serious Designing Serious Games: Consistency Games: Consistency and Harmonyand Harmony It is important to find a way to make every It is important to find a way to make every

aspect of a serious game fit together into a aspect of a serious game fit together into a coherent, integrated whole.coherent, integrated whole. Consistency is important to this; out of place, Consistency is important to this; out of place,

illogical, nonsensical, or seemingly random illogical, nonsensical, or seemingly random elements disrupt harmony.elements disrupt harmony.

Everything in a game must work in unison to Everything in a game must work in unison to support the theme and objectives of the game.support the theme and objectives of the game.

Without harmony, it can be quite difficult to Without harmony, it can be quite difficult to achieve the objectives of the game and achieve the objectives of the game and have the users take away the right things.have the users take away the right things.

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Designing Serious Designing Serious Games:Games:Engaging the PlayerEngaging the Player Ideally, you want to engage the player Ideally, you want to engage the player

emotionally and immerse them in the emotionally and immerse them in the experience created within the game.experience created within the game. Through story, characters, gameplay, and Through story, characters, gameplay, and

social interactions with other players, put social interactions with other players, put them into the game and have them live it.them into the game and have them live it.

Doing so enables a much richer and Doing so enables a much richer and deeper experience than otherwise deeper experience than otherwise possible, and achieving objectives can possible, and achieving objectives can become easier, depending on the become easier, depending on the game.game.

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Designing Serious Designing Serious Games:Games:Engaging the PlayerEngaging the Player

Screen shot from Darfur is Dying. In this part of this persuasive game,you must get water back into your refugee camp without coming into contact

with militia. Otherwise, as you learn in the game, you can be beaten,raped, sold into slavery, or killed. With the player engaged emotionally

in this fashion, the game’s message is very effectively conveyed.

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Designing Serious Designing Serious Games:Games:Reality Trumps Fun?Reality Trumps Fun? In entertainment games, if there is a In entertainment games, if there is a

choice between fun and reality, fun choice between fun and reality, fun should nearly always win.should nearly always win.

In serious games, more often than not In serious games, more often than not it works the other way, and realism it works the other way, and realism should win out over fun.should win out over fun. Precise, real-world effects might be of Precise, real-world effects might be of

overwhelming importance, particularly in overwhelming importance, particularly in military, health, and emergency response military, health, and emergency response applications where lives are at stake.applications where lives are at stake.

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Designing Serious Designing Serious Games:Games:Reality Trumps Fun?Reality Trumps Fun?

Screen shot from Hazmat: Hotzone. In a serious game like this, you wantreality over fun, or else you could have dire consequences in the real world.

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Screen shot from The Anatomy of Care. This game presents and simulatesseveral patient care scenarios from a hospital … you want this realistic!

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Designing Serious Designing Serious Games:Games:Reality Trumps Fun?Reality Trumps Fun? The extent to which reality trumps The extent to which reality trumps

fun depends on the target audience fun depends on the target audience and theme of the game.and theme of the game. Games aimed at children or adolescents, Games aimed at children or adolescents,

for example, may require simplifications for example, may require simplifications or abstractions that sacrifice realism.or abstractions that sacrifice realism.

If the audience is turned off of the game If the audience is turned off of the game before its objectives have been met, and before its objectives have been met, and do not complete the experience, this is do not complete the experience, this is ultimately a problem.ultimately a problem.

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Screen shot from Food Force. Since this game is targeted towards a youngeraudience and is more of a social/public policy game than an educational

simulation, some realism and depth is sacrificed to preserve the message.

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Designing Serious Designing Serious Games:Games:Assumptions to AvoidAssumptions to Avoid The latest and greatest hardware is The latest and greatest hardware is

available to players of the game.available to players of the game. This might be true for entertainment This might be true for entertainment

games dominated by the hard core, but games dominated by the hard core, but can be a bad assumption for serious can be a bad assumption for serious games.games.

Some serious games will require the Some serious games will require the latest and greatest in hardware, but it latest and greatest in hardware, but it is bad to assume it will be available for is bad to assume it will be available for all serious games.all serious games.

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Designing Serious Designing Serious Games:Games:Assumptions to AvoidAssumptions to Avoid

Screen shot from The Anatomy of Care. This game is based on simple webtechnologies, making it playable on both high and low-end hardware.

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Screen shot from Darfur is Dying. This game is Flash-based, allowingit to be played in web browsers with minimal hardware requirements.

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Designing Serious Designing Serious Games:Games:Assumptions to AvoidAssumptions to Avoid Players have prior gameplay Players have prior gameplay

experience.experience. Again, true in entertainment, but in Again, true in entertainment, but in

serious applications a lot of users will serious applications a lot of users will have little or no gameplay experience.have little or no gameplay experience.

Interfaces and other assumptions must Interfaces and other assumptions must be re-examined to ensure that games be re-examined to ensure that games remain accessible to the target remain accessible to the target audience.audience.

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Screen shot from Hazmat: Hotzone. The interface is kept simpleto assist non gamers in playing the game.

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Designing Serious Designing Serious Games:Games:Assumptions to AvoidAssumptions to Avoid Bigger is better.Bigger is better.

In entertainment games, players play for In entertainment games, players play for fun, and so providing as much fun as fun, and so providing as much fun as possible is a good thing.possible is a good thing.

In a serious game, the intent must be kept In a serious game, the intent must be kept in mind and addressed without going too in mind and addressed without going too overboard in the process.overboard in the process. Stay focused on the objectives of the game.Stay focused on the objectives of the game. Avoid complicating the experience.Avoid complicating the experience. Attempting to capture too much in a simulation Attempting to capture too much in a simulation

will lead to schedule misses and cost overruns.will lead to schedule misses and cost overruns.

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Designing Serious Designing Serious Games:Games:Assumptions to AvoidAssumptions to Avoid Provide short-cuts to fun.Provide short-cuts to fun.

In entertainment games, shortcuts are a In entertainment games, shortcuts are a good thing to get players into fun quicker:good thing to get players into fun quicker:

Includes the use of randomness, time Includes the use of randomness, time compression, process simplification, headache compression, process simplification, headache removal, and perfect communication.removal, and perfect communication.

All of these short-cuts, however, introduce All of these short-cuts, however, introduce deviations from reality, with potentially deviations from reality, with potentially harmful consequences depending on the harmful consequences depending on the nature of the serious game and its overall nature of the serious game and its overall objectives.objectives.

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Screen shot from Desert Rats vs. Afrika Korps. Military strategy games like this one have to employ several short-cuts to keep the game flowing nicely.

Such short-cuts in a real military simulation could be bad though.

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Screen shot from Food Force. Since this game is targeted towards a youngeraudience and is more of a social/public policy game than an educational

simulation, some short-cuts are still acceptable or even necessary.

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Designing Serious Designing Serious Games:Games:Other ConsiderationsOther Considerations Testing and progression tracking Testing and progression tracking

tends to be important to serious tends to be important to serious games.games. Are the game players getting what they Are the game players getting what they

should be getting out of the game?should be getting out of the game? Does the serious game integrate well Does the serious game integrate well

within the environment in which it is within the environment in which it is going to be used?going to be used? They should assist existing processes (for They should assist existing processes (for

education, training, and so on), and not education, training, and so on), and not replace them.replace them.

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Designing Serious Designing Serious Games:Games:Other ConsiderationsOther Considerations How do you get players to playHow do you get players to play

serious games?serious games? Ideally, players should want to play Ideally, players should want to play

without being compelled to play by their without being compelled to play by their teachers, parents, employers, and so on.teachers, parents, employers, and so on.

Want to focus on intrinsic motivations, Want to focus on intrinsic motivations, not just extrinsic motivations!not just extrinsic motivations!

Usually, this requires relating the Usually, this requires relating the experience to the player and their world, experience to the player and their world, and show how this can positively affect and show how this can positively affect their lives.their lives.

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Resources for Resources for DevelopmentDevelopment Once a serious game has been Once a serious game has been

designed, it is time to go into designed, it is time to go into production.production.

Instead of having to go it alone and Instead of having to go it alone and do everything on your own, there do everything on your own, there are a lot of resources to help out on are a lot of resources to help out on the subject.the subject.

Here are but a few …Here are but a few …

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Resources for Resources for Development:Development:ProgrammingProgramming There is a wide variety of development There is a wide variety of development

tools, engines, and middleware of tools, engines, and middleware of potential use in student projects.potential use in student projects.

There are a lot of choices available There are a lot of choices available depending on various factors:depending on various factors: Programming vs. scripting vs. tools aloneProgramming vs. scripting vs. tools alone Choice of programming languageChoice of programming language 2D vs. 3D game2D vs. 3D game Freeware vs. shareware vs. $$$Freeware vs. shareware vs. $$$

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Resources for Resources for Development:Development:ProgrammingProgramming There are far too many options to list.There are far too many options to list. Fortunately, there are many places Fortunately, there are many places

with lists that allow an easy selection with lists that allow an easy selection based on course and student needs:based on course and student needs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_game_engineshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_game_engines http://www.devmaster.net/engineshttp://www.devmaster.net/engines http://gpwiki.org/index.php/Game_Engineshttp://gpwiki.org/index.php/Game_Engines http://www.ambrosine.com/resource.htmlhttp://www.ambrosine.com/resource.html http://www.csd.uwo.ca/~katchab/pubs/http://www.csd.uwo.ca/~katchab/pubs/

ecoo2006.pptecoo2006.ppt(my ECOO 2006 talk on game development)(my ECOO 2006 talk on game development)

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Resources for Resources for Development:Development:Content and AssetsContent and Assets Game content and assets are Game content and assets are

necessary to complete a game and necessary to complete a game and create the overall player experience.create the overall player experience. This includes artwork, sound effects, This includes artwork, sound effects,

music, voiceovers, and so on.music, voiceovers, and so on. If development is largely occurring If development is largely occurring

in a computer science classroom, in a computer science classroom, you do not want to distract students you do not want to distract students by having them develop their own by having them develop their own content and assets.content and assets.

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Resources for Resources for Development:Development:Content and AssetsContent and Assets So, where can they come from?So, where can they come from?

Visual arts, music, drama, and other Visual arts, music, drama, and other courses within the school can be a good courses within the school can be a good option.option.

Local content producers and/or game Local content producers and/or game companies that are willing to help out.companies that are willing to help out.

And, of course, the Internet:And, of course, the Internet: http://www.ambrosine.com/resource.htmlhttp://www.ambrosine.com/resource.html http://reinerstileset.4players.de/englisch.htmhttp://reinerstileset.4players.de/englisch.htm http://freesound.iua.upf.eduhttp://freesound.iua.upf.edu My ECOO 2006 talk had other links too!My ECOO 2006 talk had other links too!

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Industry-orientedIndustry-oriented Entertainment Software Association Entertainment Software Association

(http://www.theesa.com)(http://www.theesa.com) ESRB (http://www.esrb.org)ESRB (http://www.esrb.org) IGDA (http://www.igda.org)IGDA (http://www.igda.org)

Game development newsGame development news GameDev.net (http://www.gamedev.net)GameDev.net (http://www.gamedev.net) Gamasutra (http://www.gamasutra.com)Gamasutra (http://www.gamasutra.com) Slashdot (http://games.slashdot.org)Slashdot (http://games.slashdot.org)

And do not forget google and And do not forget google and wikipedia!wikipedia!

Resources for Resources for Development:Development:WebsitesWebsites

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Concluding RemarksConcluding Remarks

Serious games provide a new and Serious games provide a new and exciting way to provide engaging exciting way to provide engaging experiences in an immersive and experiences in an immersive and interactive fashion for a variety of interactive fashion for a variety of purposes.purposes.

There are many potential application There are many potential application areas, and work is only in its infancy.areas, and work is only in its infancy.

Consequently, serious games represent Consequently, serious games represent interesting new opportunities for the interesting new opportunities for the computer science classroom!computer science classroom!

serious games: from serious fun to serious impact dr. michael katchabaw department of computer...

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