News in Games-Based Learning

Online Learning Minute: Game Based Learning

The math-based computer games of our youth are just one example of game-based learning, or a course built inside of a game. Gamification uses gaming principles like rewards, badges or peer competition as elements to an online course.

games-based learningDave EngApril 24, 2020games based learningComment

11 tools to get you started making video games

Making a video game is much less daunting than it might seem. While you likely aren't going to go from having no experience to making the next Grand Theft Auto, it has actually never been easier to get started making games. To try to make things easier for those looking to get started making games, we've put together a list of 11 game engines / editors.

toolsDave EngApril 23, 2020tools, video games, designComment

How Can You Use Gamification to Boost Innovation?

At what stage in an innovation process can you bring in gamification?

gamificationDave EngApril 22, 2020gamification, innovationComment

Parents: Tips on using online and board games to help kids learn

Parents should remember that games are not magic. Kids come into games with a play mindset, which doesn't always mean trying to do well in a game. You could have your kids play the game in teams so they have to slow down and debate what choices they are going to make in the game.

parents, board gamesDave EngApril 21, 2020parents, board games, kids, learningComment

ESRB Ratings Will Now Tell You If A Game Has Loot Boxes

"Since adding the In-Game Purchases notice to ratings assigned to physical games many game consumers and enthusiasts have reached out to us asking the ESRB to include additional information to identify games that include randomized purchases," the agency wrote.

loot boxesDave EngApril 20, 2020ESRB, Loot BoxesComment

How to play the 6 best education gaming classics of all time

First, and most importantly, is "The Oregon Trail" - an MS-DOS version of the game that, thanks to modern technology, can just outright run through emulation in a web browser.

educational gamesDave EngApril 17, 2020games, educational games, how to playComment

Gamified Training: An Infallible Way For Employee Engagement

Gamified training in business is all about creating an environment where people learn through friendly competitions.

gamificationDave EngApril 16, 2020gamification, training, employeeComment

Gamification has promise and pitfalls

Intrinsic motivations tie into a person's altruistic desire to contribute to the greater good with no expectation of a reward beyond feeling good about helping others.

gamificationDave EngApril 15, 2020gamification, pitfallsComment

Board Games Are Having A Bad Time

Board game stores around the world have been closed because they're far from an essential service, and most importantly, publishers are now finding they're unable to even get their games made, let alone ship them out internationally.

board games, covid-19, coronavirusDave EngApril 14, 2020coronavirus, covid-19, board games, industryComment

Is Zoom the video game platform for life during coronavirus? USC game students say ‘yes’

He's set a deadline of April 24 for those who wish to participate in the competitive phase of ZoomJam, for which a panel of game designers and academics will chose the top three submissions.

zoomDave EngApril 13, 2020zoom, web conference, games, uscComment

A.I. Can Now Beat Every Atari 2600 Game

DeepMind released a research paper explaining why video games are such a good way to test A.I. You can read a portion of it below.

AI, atariDave EngApril 10, 2020atari, AI, arcade gamesComment

Focus Games offers Free Digital Games for Training During Covid-19

During COVID-19 redeployed staff and volunteers need rapid induction and ongoing training. Focus Games knows that face-to-face training is not always possible.

free, covid-19Dave EngApril 9, 2020free, digital, games, focus games, covid-19Comment

How to make corporate training more engaging with gamification

You know how important workplace safety is - "It's our number one priority!" the company president would say -, but you have the same training every year and you have hardly used any of it in your daily activities.

training, corporate, gamificationDave EngApril 8, 2020corporate, training, gamificationComment

Enforced Home Working Will Be Game Changer for Virtual Reality

Dave Whelan, chief executive and founder of VRE, says his phones have been ringing off the hook since corona virus restrictions were imposed, with the company employing additional business development staff to handle the extra workload. Two weeks ago, it ran a virtual conference for Taiwanese electronics group HTC. The Hyve conference is normally an event with physical attendees, but as it was due to be held in China HTC asked VRE if it could host the event virtually.

virtual reality, remote workDave EngApril 7, 2020working from home, remote work, virtual realityComment

I’ve committed to 365 Board Game plays in 2020. Here’s the update from March so far…

Like last year, I set a goal to play 365 board games in one year. This isn’t 365 plays of DIFFERENT board games (i.e. if I play checkers 3 times then it counts as 3 plays). I’m doing this to ensure that I play a lot of board games but also a breath of different board games. I also barely made my goal last year. So I know that 365 is a difficult (but attainable) challenge!

board games, challengesDave EngApril 6, 2020bgstatsComment

Games Are A Leader's Secret Weapon

Games tap into the core mechanisms that have guided how humans have learned forever - play, observation and group problem-solving - and lend themselves to feedback loops.

corporateDave EngApril 3, 2020games, secret, professional developmentComment

Board games form human connections in a world that increasingly seeks to sever them

In a world where all manner of political and corporate scoundrels attempt to erect barriers on a daily basis, it's refreshing to see that board games have the ability to transcend them.

Dave EngApril 2, 2020Comment