Blog — University XP

Making games visually accessible

Making games visually accessible

This article will review how to make more visually accessible games. This should be done to make games as accessible for more people: players, learners, and student included. By making games more visually accessible we adhere to better design choices that result in the creation of better games. Visual accessibility options for players will be discussed as well as the use of interactive fiction for engaging vision impaired players. A list of curated resources for vision impaired players is also included.

game design, accessibilityDave EngDecember 22, 2020game design, accessibility, visual, color blindnessComment

Game Mechanics for Learning

Game Mechanics for Learning

This article will examine game mechanics as an educator applying games-based learning. The structure of mechanics, how they are used, and the purpose of the “core loop” of games will be examined. Specific game mechanics used in gamification and games-based learning will be reviewed. Those mechanics include goals & objectives; progress & competency; feedback; and rewards. The relationship between game mechanics and goals will be examined in relationship to the player experience. Creating relatable content that applies directly to learners experiences is recommended. Lastly, playtesting will be discussed as a way to validate game mechanics for learning.

game mechanics, learning, training, development, feedbackDave EngDecember 3, 2020game mechanics, learning, structure, core loop, feedback Comments

What are Megagames?

What are Megagames?

This article will review megagames. It’ll define what megagames are as well as the history of megagames. The structure of megagames will be explained as well as how role-playing and engagement occurs within the game. Player hierarchies are an interesting component of megagame structure and will be explored in greater depth. Megagames are administered by a certain group of people called “control.” Their engagement greatly impacts the player experience. Design aspects of megagames will be covered as well as how megagames can be used for games-based learning.

megagamesDave EngOctober 22, 2020megagames, structure, role-playing, engagement, players, player experience, game designComment

What makes a good rule book?

What makes a good rule book?

This article will review game rulebooks in depth. It will cover the purpose of your rulebook; striking a balance in your structure; and the process of writing and revising the rulebook. The structure of the rulebook will be covered from different sections including statistical information, components, theme, overview, setup, core loop, and game end.

rulebook, board gamesDave EngOctober 1, 2020rulebook, board games, playtesting, structure, theme, core loopComment

What is intrinsic motivation?

What is intrinsic motivation?

This article defines intrinsic motivation with some examples. This is contrasted with extrinsic motivation: our desire to participate for some sort of external benefit. Both intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation are compared. Intrinsic motivation in games is highly influenced by social pressures. These social pressures also manifest themselves in the workplace and throughout education. Intrinsic motivation will be addressed through games-based learning as well as how the designer can create games that best emphasize this powerful form of motivation. Specific steps for designing with intrinsic motivation in mind will be discussed.

intrinsic motivationDave EngSeptember 10, 2020intrinsic motivation, intrinsic, extrinsic motivation, extrinsic, social, workplace, education, games based learning, designingComment

What is Player Agency?

What is Player Agency?

This article provides a definition of player agency in games. Player agency includes making sure that players are provided with meaningful decisions during their play. This article reviews the concepts and scope of players’ meaningful decisions as well as the requisite components that make up player agency. Player agency is reviewed from multiple perspectives. Those perspectives include from within the magic circle; from within the game design; and lastly from the designer.

player agency, meaningful decisions, player experienceDave EngAugust 20, 2020player, agency, meaningful decisions, magic circle, narratives, game designComment

What is the Lusory Attitude?

What is the Lusory Attitude?

This article will review the lusory attitude of games. It includes a review of play in games as well as an overview of the “lusory agreement.” Part of this agreement includes players adhering to the rules of the game. While rules are important formal structures of games they aren’t the only thing that is involved in the lusory agreement. Players’ attitudes and mindsets also impact their agreement. This agreement should prevent and discourage players from acting in “bad faith” when making decisions in games. The article closes on the social contract and social agreement of games as part of the lusory attitude.

lusory attitude, lusory agreementDave EngJuly 30, 2020lusory, lusory attitude, lusory agreement, play, rules, attitude, mindset, social agreement, social constructComment

What is the “Magic Circle?”

What is the “Magic Circle?”

This article will answer the question “What is the magic circle?” In addition, it’ll address the magic circle as the “separate and special place” in gaming. Characteristics and locations of the magic circle will be discussed as well as how players cross into the magic circle. Players’ rules and roles within the circle as well as their return to “reality” are covered in this article. Finally, this article closes on using the magic circle in games-based learning as well as some criticisms around its use.

ludology, player experience, magic circleDave EngJuly 9, 2020magic circle, games, ludology, player experience, rulesComment

What is player behavior?

What is player behavior?

This article will address why understanding player behavior is important. Player behavior will be defined as well as what characteristics make up player behaviors. Influences that affect player behavior are reviewed in depth as well as different players’ responses to different influences in the game environment. Finally, outcomes of player behaviors are discussed as well as how to design to capitalize on them.

player behaviorDave EngJune 18, 2020player, behavior, game designComment

What are interactive experiences?

What are interactive experiences?

This article will provide an overview of interactive experiences. Specifically addressing how they are created with users’ needs in mind. Interactive experiences benefit from the connection between users and the environment. But that connection is often nothing without control, agency, and decision making capacity. Costello’s Pleasure Framework is identified as a structure with which to build immersive and interactive environments that can be integrated into physical spaces. Finally, applications and examples of interactive experiences are provided.

interactive experiencesDave EngMay 28, 2020interactive experiences, users, players, students, connection, control, costello's pleasure framework, curated, experience, immersion, integrationComment

What is a simulation?

What is a simulation?

This article will answer the question “what is a simulation?” In addition, the connection between games and simulations will be outlined and discussed. The role that simulations play in teaching and learning will be covered as well as some of the biggest benefits of using simulations for education. Steps for applying and using simulations for learning will be outlined. In addition, adapting simulations for an established class or course will also be discussed. This article ends with some common issues using simulations as well as some of the best outcomes to prioritize when applying simulations to teaching and learning.

simulationsDave EngMay 14, 2020simulations, fidelity, abstraction, teaching, learningComment

What is Gamification?

What is Gamification?

This article will answer the question “what is gamification?” Examples of gamification and some applications of gamification will be provided. An examination of gamification is covered in order to determine that makes it successful. Finally, tips will be shared and discussed on how to use gamification successfully to achieve your goals while mitigating some of gamification’s shortcomings.

gamificationDave EngApril 30, 2020gamificationComment

What is a learning game?

What is a learning game?

This article will answer what learning games are. In addition, common problems and challenges with learning games will be reviewed. Key characteristics of learning games will be provided as well as attributes that make good learning games. The article closes with how to design learning games as well as provides an argument on using games for learning.

learning game, games-based leareningDave EngApril 9, 2020learning game, games based learning, game designComment

What is Games-Based Learning?

What is Games-Based Learning?

This article covers why we should use games for learning as well as includes a definition of games-based learning. Games-based learning often gets confused with gamification; so this article will discuss the differences between the two. Lastly, the article will cover how skills are developed through games-based learning as well as how to use games-based learning in your own practice.

games-based leareningDave EngMarch 26, 2020games, games-based learning, gamification, skill Comments

Representation in Games

Representation in Games

This article will address the historical overview of representation in games as well as how it reflects on the direction of the game industry. The article will review reasons to become more representative as well as some negative aspects that under-representation or misrepresentation has had in games. The article will cover the growing diversity of gamers as well as some prime examples to follow. Representation is addressed as a concept of design accessibility and is followed with some action steps to take. Finally, representation as it relates to table top game play and future implications are included and discussed.

game design, representationDave EngMarch 19, 2020representation, industry, diversityComment

Accessibility in Games

Accessibility in Games

This article will address how accessibility affects the player experience. We’ll dive deeply into why accessibility challenges make them the “wrong” kind of difficulty for players. This article will address accessibility as design considerations for the widest and most diverse audience. We’ll first cover designing with accessibility in mind from the start and then cover types of accessibility changes made in game design. Those changes include accessibility addressing motor movement; cognition; vision; hearing; and economics. This article will close on how designers can use accessibility to continually improve their practice and design.

accessibilityDave EngMarch 12, 2020accessibility, audience, diversity, motor, cognitive, vision, hearing, speech, economics, game designComment

Play Testing for Success

Play Testing for Success

This article will review the role of play testing games. It will cover what a play test is as well as reasons why designers should play test their games. This article will also cover some player limitations of play testing as well as how to keep designer bias in check. Objectives of play testing and stages of play testing will also be covered and discussed. Advice is provided on collecting information during a play test as well as where to play test. The article ends with how you can use play testing to grow as a designer as well as how to serve as a good play tester yourself.

game design, playtestingDave EngMarch 5, 2020player experience, playtestingComment

Applying Feedback

Applying Feedback

This article will review different areas of player feedback from play testing. It includes the steps for collecting feedback as well as how to specifically ask for actionable feedback from your playtesters. It includes the top three questions that I ask from all of my playtesters as well as common interpretations for the kinds of feedback that you’ll receive. The article will cover how to consolidate your feedback from playtesters as well as how to apply it. Review of the feedback process will be provided along with limitations of the entire feedback process.

feedback, playtestingDave EngFebruary 26, 2020feedback, playtesting, feedback questions, applying feedbackComment

Game Components

Game Components

This article will provide a very broad and generalized overview of the different components that make up table top games. Disclaimer though: this list is not meant to be comprehensive or completely inclusive. Of course, there are opportunities to discuss and debate the use of these different components. As those are discussed the list and applications of game components will continue to expand. This article will cover what these game components are as well as sort them into applicable areas.

components, tabletop gamesDave EngFebruary 20, 2020components, games, table top gameComment

Engagement Curves

Engagement Curves

This article will address the “engagement curve” of games and how it affects player and user engagement. It will cover what should be prioritized when creating engaging games as well as how timing works in the engagement cycle. This curve is discussed for continual player engagement as well as how most popular apps utilize this for monetization purposes. Finally, this article closes out on why engagement is important for games and how it can be harnessed for serious game development.

engagement curveDave EngFebruary 13, 2020engagement, engagement curve, game design, timing, monetization, serious gamesComment