Alaska Escape Rooms in downtown Anchorage offers immersive experiences like Raven’s Eye and Conjured Kingdoms, where participants engage in puzzles and decisions, from imprisoning villains to rescuing damsels. Founded in 2017, it has become a popular venue for diverse events, including date nights and team-building exercises for businesses.
Read MoreScott Nicholson from Wilfrid Laurier University is collaborating with the mEducation Alliance to create a resource for libraries in low-resource settings, focusing on board and card games. The initiative aims to compile games that are easy to explain, engaging, and robust enough for long-term use. Key criteria for selection include robustness, explainability, table presence, engagement, and overhead. Community members are invited to suggest suitable games via a Google Document. This project seeks to empower youth to teach games in libraries, fostering community connections and learning. For more information, contact Scott Nicholson at scott@scottnicholson.com
Read MoreThe evolution of casino games has transformed from traditional venues like Casino di Venezia, where high-stakes games drew affluent players, to a digital landscape accessible to all. The mid-1990s saw the rise of online casinos, allowing users to gamble from home, albeit with less social interaction. Live dealer games then emerged to recreate the authentic casino experience, fostering community through real-time interactions. Mobile casinos further revolutionized the industry, enabling gambling on-the-go with optimized games and enticing bonuses. As technology advances, including virtual reality, the casino gaming experience continues to evolve, reaching broader audiences and adapting to modern lifestyles.
Read MoreFantasy sports have transformed into sophisticated platforms that enhance critical thinking and strategic planning skills. Participants analyze player statistics, historical performance, and matchup projections to make informed decisions. Roster management requires balancing player potential and injury risks, while trading involves assessing team needs and negotiating effectively. Developing a long-term strategy emphasizes adaptability and foresight. Additionally, real-time updates from sports news influence decision-making. Understanding opponents' strategies is vital, as is managing the psychological aspects of losses and expectations. Overall, fantasy sports cultivate valuable skills like analytical thinking and data-driven decision-making, which extend into real-life scenarios.
Read MoreNew research suggests that integrating games into teaching can significantly enhance learning outcomes in subjects like economics and statistics. Led by Assistant Professor Joshua Fullard from Warwick Business School, the study compared traditional lecturing with game-based learning among university students. Those who used games showed a remarkable 7% increase in exam scores, with significantly fewer failing—only 7% compared to nearly a fifth in the traditional group.
Read MoreRecent developments in the video game industry challenge the notion of gaming as merely a recreational pastime, highlighting its potential to tackle real-world issues through "gamification." This approach integrates game mechanics into non-game contexts to engage users in solving problems like energy conservation and climate change, exemplified by the UN's Mission 1.5.
Read MoreThe Games-Based Learning Virtual Conference (GBLVC) 2025 invites session proposals for its annual three-day virtual event from June 6-8, 2025. Hosted by the Games-Based Learning Alliance and University XP, GBLVC fosters discussions among educators, designers, and professionals on using games for teaching and training. Sessions can be pre-recorded or live, with diverse topics including gamification, professional development, and culturally relevant games. Proposals are due by December 8, 2024, with notifications sent by January 13, 2025. Presenters receive complimentary conference access. GBLVC promotes diversity and encourages participation from varied backgrounds.
Read MoreArizona State University (ASU) and Endless Network have unveiled plans for the Endless Games and Learning Lab, announced during a discussion at the ASU+GSV Summit. President Michael Crow and Endless founder Matt Dalio highlighted the lab's significance in merging advanced technology with immersive game environments to revolutionize education globally.
Read MoreResearchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison investigated whether video games could positively impact emotional development in children aged 8-18, a critical period coinciding with significant brain development and exposure to challenges like bullying and anxiety.
Read MoreStephanie Scheller, diagnosed with ADHD at 26, finds solace and focus through music, citing its impact on brainwaves and dopamine release. Her journey led her to found Grow Disrupt, organizing ADHD-friendly events focused on skill development and neurodiverse communication.
Read MoreIn Talib Visram's article, a new educational game within Minecraft, Heat Wave Survival, transforms the abstract threat of extreme heat into a tangible challenge—a fire-breathing dragon. Developed by the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, the game aims to educate children about the dangers of heat and teach mitigation strategies such as hydration and urban planning.
Read MoreThe article "Why Peace Games? Insights from East Asia" argues for the importance of peace games amidst a backdrop of heightened war simulations, particularly concerning China. While war games focus on military scenarios, peace games simulate diplomatic engagements to explore and enhance statecraft aimed at preventing conflicts and promoting peace.
Read MoreGaming, whether digital or traditional, carries significant real-world implications, as highlighted by Arizona State University alum Kishonna L. Gray's research on marginalized communities. As the 2024 Lincoln Center Visiting Scholar, Gray discussed the intersection of games, identity, and social norms, urging a reevaluation of game interactions' effects on historically marginalized groups.
Read MoreA recent study from West Virginia University in Morgantown explored the impact of gamifying manufacturing tasks on worker engagement and productivity. Participants assembled a model cherry picker over multiple sessions, with one group receiving gamified incentives like progress bars and badges.
Read MoreRobot trading is revolutionizing financial markets by making investing more accessible for new investors. Automated platforms simplify the process, using algorithms to reduce human error and emotional decision-making. These systems offer a gamified experience, with leaderboards and interactive features that engage users. While risks remain, automation lowers barriers to entry.
Read MoreIn many games like Skyrim, collecting inessential items such as books is common but often overlooked. Despite their potential to enrich the game's universe, players usually skim or ignore them. However, these texts serve a crucial purpose, offering insight into the game world's lore, characters, and atmosphere.
Read MoreLinkedIn's introduction of a games section heralds a new era of engagement in the professional sphere. While aiming to deepen connections and inject fun, it prompts reflection on employee-company relationships, potential competitiveness, and the balance between virtual and real-world interactions.
Read MoreThe article discusses the profound impact of technology on toy and game design, highlighting its role in enhancing play experiences, fostering creativity, and facilitating education. It explores how technology has transformed traditional toys into interactive and immersive experiences, citing examples such as electronic toys, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) games.
Read MoreThe article discusses Lucas Pope's influence on gaming, particularly his new Playdate game, "Mars After Midnight."
Read MoreThe study in the Circulation journal examined the impact of gamification and financial incentives on physical activity in individuals at risk of cardiovascular events. By employing behavioral economic concepts, shorter-term analyses demonstrated increased physical activity in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Read More
