Gameplay Bricks Model, a Theoretical Framework to Match Game Mechanics and Cognitive Functions

Gameplay Bricks Model, a Theoretical Framework toMatch Game Mechanics and Cognitive Functions

Gameplay Bricks Model, a Theoretical Framework to Match Game Mechanics and Cognitive Functions

By Gregory Ben-Sadoun  and Julian Alvarez

Abstract

“This article investigated whether it is possible to establish correspondences between game mechanics and particular cognitive stimulations. There are many challenges toprevent and treat cognitive decline with aging or neurocognitive disease. Observingdifficulties to establish such correspondences in the scientific literature, we proposedto move away from “classification by genre” or any other type of taxonomy thatdeviates from the framework of the “Rules/Formal schemas” and the “set of rules”component of the gameplay. Thus, we proposed the Gameplay Bricks model as atheoretical framework for Video Game (VG) and Serious Games (SG). We jointlyrelied on a framework on fractionated executive functions, memory, and attention. TheGameplay Bricks model currently identifies 14 majorMetabricks (game mechanics)through seven Metabricks of obligations and seven of prohibitions. We have proposedfirst correspondences accompanied by examples from the VG-SGs. The limits andperspectives of these first matches were then discussed.”

Reference

Ben-Sadoun, G., &; Alvarez, J. (2022). Gameplay bricks model, a theoretical framework to match game mechanics and cognitive functions. Games and Culture, 155541202210809. doi:10.1177/15554120221080925 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/exsy.13023

Keywords

Video games, serious games, game mechanics, cognitive functions, executive functions, research