News in Games-Based Learning — University XP

A Discussion on Tabletop Game Player Aids – Ask The Bellhop

A Discussion on Tabletop Game Player Aids – Ask The Bellhop

Long time Tabletop Bellhop fan Ryan Peach asks: What are your thoughts on fan-created game aids? Are they table clutter, or do they actually help? Are they better for new players or will veterans also benefit? If you use them, in your experience, which aids or kinds of aids help the most and least? Are there games that you wish had aids, but do not yet? Are there games where you feel they aren't needed? Has a player aid like a rules summary ever replaced a games rulebook for you? Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links.

gameDave EngJune 24, 2024game, aids, playerComment

The Preservation of Classic Games and Their Importance in Computer History Education

The Preservation of Classic Games and Their Importance in Computer History Education

The gaming industry has significantly grown, offering numerous options. However, running classic games on modern machines is challenging due to changes in CPUs and operating systems. This article explores why we should preserve classic games for computer history education.

classicDave EngJune 23, 2024classic, educational, programsComment

The Impact of Video Games on the Brain: A Balanced Perspective

The Impact of Video Games on the Brain: A Balanced Perspective

While the potential for addiction is real, video games can also have a positive impact on the brain when played in moderation. Positive Effects of Video Games on Mental Health Video games can have a positive impact on players' mental health.

videoDave EngJune 22, 2024video, games, addictionComment

The intersection of gaming, animation & education trends

The intersection of gaming, animation & education trends

The introduction of technology has profoundly changed the way that knowledge is taught and learned. Technology has become an essential aspect of education, especially when it comes to digital learning. Here's a look at how innovations are transforming and reshaping the landscape of education.

learningDave EngJune 21, 2024learning, education, gameComment

Food for thought: taking food in games beyond mechanics and into the narrative

Food for thought: taking food in games beyond mechanics and into the narrative

Food has been a part of video games for ages, from Pacman to Metal Gear Solid. There are dozens of games where I shot, punched, or exploded other characters. The meal sequences in Pentiment and Sakuna are perfect examples of how to do exposition in games.

gamesDave EngJune 20, 2024games, food, writingComment

It’s almost Fun at Work Day, which is serious business — here’s why

It’s almost Fun at Work Day, which is serious business — here’s why

"You're more likely to engage and your company is that much more likely to be productive. And the thing that happens when you're productive is that you're also more profitable. So it really does affect the bottom line. And that's as simple as it gets." Fun goes virtual The Fun Dept.

funDave EngJune 19, 2024fun, workplace, teamComment

A Critic’s Guide To Game Design By Inspiration

A Critic’s Guide To Game Design By Inspiration

Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, and so many good games were inspired by something else-Metroid drew inspiration from Alien, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night drew inspiration from Super Metroid, and The Legend of Zelda clearly inspired Darksiders.

gameDave EngJune 18, 2024game, inspired, gameplayComment

Help me to help you – The need for player aids

Help me to help you – The need for player aids

A player aid should also provide all the important iconography you need to process the actions you will take in the game. These player aids though mean you spend less time remembering how to play a faction, and more time playing the game.

playerDave EngJune 17, 2024player, game, needComment

From Tic-Tac-Toe to Monopoly, a mathematician reveals the design secret of great  games

From Tic-Tac-Toe to Monopoly, a mathematician reveals the design secret of great games

Below, du Sautoy shares five key insights from his new book, Around the World in Eighty Games: From Tarot to Tic-Tac-Toe, Catan to Chutes and Ladders, a Mathematician Unlocks the Secrets of the World's Greatest Games.

gamesDave EngJune 16, 2024games, playing, mathematicsComment

“Gamified” exercises revolutionising health and well-being for older people

“Gamified” exercises revolutionising health and well-being for older people

Key points: Fitness and exercise gamification takes the principles of gaming and applies them to movement routines, transforming them into engaging challenges that help prevent falls and cognitive decline One in three people over the age of 65 living in the community will experience a fall every year Falls are a significant public health issue, contributing to mobility-related disability and loss of independence, and are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths worldwide Gone are the days of video games just being for young people.

exerciseDave EngJune 15, 2024exercise, community, balanceComment

Making a Better Monopoly: Or, what games-based learning can learn from a century of game development

Making a Better Monopoly: Or, what games-based learning can learn from a century of game development

If Monopoly is not a good role model for game design, how could modern ideas and developments improve it? What might Monopoly look like if it had been designed today? I'd like to show how we could reconstruct Monopoly as an enjoyable game and also as a learning game - one that families could play over the holidays but that could also teach them a thing or two.

gamesDave EngJune 14, 2024games, players, designComment

Study: gamification entices 84% of warehouse workers

Study: gamification entices 84% of warehouse workers

Warehouse workers who play together, stay together, according to market study insights released today from Lucas Systems, a distribution center technology company providing software to workers in more than 400 warehouses worldwide.

researchDave EngJune 13, 2024research, gamification, workersComment

Let’s learn about the benefits of playing video games

Let’s learn about the benefits of playing video games

Gibson reached such a high level that the game's coding glitched and crashed. Such clever computer software has been besting human experts at an increasing number of video and board games. That's a lot of time - but not that much more than many kids spend on video games.

games\Dave EngJune 12, 2024games, video, teenComment

To Mod or Not to Mod: Why The Future of Gaming is User Generated

To Mod or Not to Mod: Why The Future of Gaming is User Generated

"Modding lets me mix my love for both dinosaurs and video games," Garuga said. While modding is still something he does on the side, it's far from a hobby for a huge number of modders.

moddingDave EngJune 11, 2024modding, gaming, industryComment

Why Some Video Games Are So Hard to Stop Playing

Why Some Video Games Are So Hard to Stop Playing

Many video games intentionally include design elements crafted to keep people playing as long and as often as possible. Tactics like these naturally make infinite games much harder for players to walk away from.

gamesDave EngJune 10, 2024games, playing, playersComment

Exploring The Intersection Of Gaming And Education

Exploring The Intersection Of Gaming And Education

Juego Studios - Game Development and Game Art Studio Juego Studios is a renowned game development and art design service provider, known for creating a wide range of games such as RPGs, MMORPGs, puzzles, and action games.

gamesDave EngJune 9, 2024games, learning, memoryComment

A software entrepreneur wants to empower players to develop their own games

A software entrepreneur wants to empower players to develop their own games

Even before its official inception in 2015, her Minneapolis-based gaming company 7 Generation Games was a side hustle focused on developing software and gaming platforms that served the needs of underrepresented populations.

gamesDave EngJune 8, 2024games, generation, softwareComment

4 Gaming Technology Trends to Observe in 2024

4 Gaming Technology Trends to Observe in 2024

A large part of the spectacular development of our planet in the last two or three decades is due to the emergence of various technological solutions. These solutions made the world an easier place to live in and laid the foundations for further development.

iGaming, Contributed Article, AIDave EngJune 7, 2024Cloud, iGaming, Contributed Article, AI, 5G, multiplayer, streamingComment

From besting Tetris AI to epic speedruns – inside gaming’s most thrilling feats

From besting Tetris AI to epic speedruns – inside gaming’s most thrilling feats

The Oklahoma teen beat the game by defeating level after level until he reached the "Kill screen" - that is, the moment when the Tetris artificial intelligence taps out in exhaustion, stopping play because its designers never wrote the code to advance further.

gameDave EngJune 7, 2024game, community, MinecraftComment

How Playing Games Enables Engaging Ways of Learning Agility

How Playing Games Enables Engaging Ways of Learning Agility

In games, we play with our imagination and we experience situations in an environment which is safe for trying and experimenting with something new, without high risk, Perlak said.

gamesDave EngJune 6, 2024games, learning, complexComment