Learning geothermal energy basics with the serious game hotpipe

Burning fossil fuels is a big part of our heat production. Since this process is both non-renewable and polluting, finding other options is important. A clean and underutilized alternative is geothermal energy. However, it is often not considered due to sheer ignorance or misconceptions. HotPipe is a serious game designed to alleviate these...

Loud and clear: The VR game without visuals

While visual impairment is relatively common, most sighted people have no idea of what it is like to live without one of the most heavily utilised senses. We developed the game Loud and Clear in order to have them experience the difficulties of being visually impaired, as well as to put in evidence the abilities blind people have developed,...

Quantum physics vs. classical physics: Introducing the basics with a virtual reality game

Unlike classical physics, quantum physics is harder to explain, as it involves very small scales and phenomena that are not visible to the naked eye. Understanding the differences between classical and quantum physics is difficult, especially for children, who cannot grasp the subtleties conveyed in complicated formulae.<br/><br/>We propose to...

A serious game to inform young citizens on canal water maintenance

In order to support the creation of sustainable and healthy ecosystems, citizens should have knowledge of the necessary maintenance needed. For example, they should be aware of the challenges of maintaining proper urban surface waters, so that they can take on a responsible and proactive role. Ideally, citizens should acquire this knowledge...

Reinforcing the Attitude-Behavior Relationship in Persuasive Game Design: Four Design Recommendations for Persuasive Games for Societal Interventions

Persuasive games for societal interventions aim to shape, reinforce<br/>or change players’ attitudes and behavior to help solving complex societal<br/>issues. In earlier work, we explored how persuasive game mechanics may<br/>contribute to the formation of attitudes in persuasive games. As a follow-up, this paper presents four design...

MainTrain: A Serious Game on the Complexities of Rail Maintenance

Commuters who travel by train often feel annoyed due to misunderstanding the causes of delays in train traffic. They oftentimes are unaware of the necessity of performing maintenance to stations, tracks, and trains. MainTrain is a serious game developed to teach commuters about rail-maintenance while simulating the difficulty of keeping...

Exploring a Mixed Method Approach: Simulation Games and Q Methodology

In this paper we explore the possibilities to combine two research methods we regard as being very useful when interacting with stakeholders in complex systems. We discuss a mixed research methods approach, based on the Q methodology and a simulation game. In a game design process, translating the real or reference system into the game design is...

Musicality: A Game to Improve Musical Perception

Musicality is the concept that refers to a person’s ability to perceive and reproduce music. Due to its complexity, it can be best defined by different aspects of music like pitch, harmony, etc. Scientists believe that musicality is not an inherent trait possessed only by musicians but something anyone can nurture and train in themselves. In...