The do’s and don’ts of educational game development
The do’s and don’ts of educational game development
The do’s and don’ts of educational game development
By Alyssa Froehling
February 7, 2022
Summary
Do you have an idea for an educational video game that you just can't get out of your head, but you're not sure where to start? Are you thinking to yourself, "Surely educational game design isn't a free-for-all - there must be some best practices out there somewhere?".
Whether you're new to industry or a veteran, whether you've dreamed of making an educational game for years or you are just curious as to how they come together - we have just the guide for you! Here are the do's and don'ts of creating excellent educational games.
In a similar way, great educational games integrate content with game mechanics.
If you're approaching your game with the idea that the learning part is uninteresting at best, or punishing at worst, and you need to conceal it or make up for it with game mechanics, your game may feel disjointed.
A turn-based strategy game where players run a music studio and record label in a fictional city, reminiscent of New York? That sounds way more appealing, despite both descriptions of the game being true.
When it comes to the game's design, Holbert states, "In Beats Empire players define their game goal. They can try to get on the top charts for all genres or win by getting a top song in three genres. Furthermore, players define subgoals such as getting the most money of their friends, unlocking all the boroughs, etc. Each player chooses what artists they will sign, what song to record, etc. These options allow game play to feel personal and make each studio constructed by players uniqueThe end result is a game full of personally meaningful choices-players are proud of their studio-but those choices also allow players to demonstrate their understanding of assessed concepts/practices!".
Being deadset on a specific genre of game before pinning down the exact content of your game could cause a disconnect between the educational material and the game mechanics.
Reference
Froehling, A. (2022, February 7). The do’s and don’ts of educational game development. Filament Games. https://www.filamentgames.com/blog/the-dos-and-donts-of-educational-game-development/