Serious game: what are they? Definition and practical examples
We have been developing video games since 2009. Over the years, we have received many requests for serious game, especially for school and educational contexts. But not only that.
Before taking a closer look at some of our gameplay experiences, let’s first see what serious game are and which contexts they fit into.
Serious game, also known as educational games or “games with a purpose", are digital games designed specifically for training, informational, and educational goals.
Compared to traditional PC or console games, serious game aim to involve the player in a learning process. Their application fields vary widely, from corporate settings (for e-learning projects) to schools and training paths built around edutainment.
Edugames are serious game and fall within experiential learning, a dynamic in which a person learns and internalizes through the gameplay experience.
Serious game have become very popular in recent years and the trend is growing, mainly thanks to the use of new enabling assets such as augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and virtual worlds.
Depending on the goal, the audience, and the available technology, the corresponding gameplay will be conceived: from simpler, more intuitive games with cartoon-like graphics, to more immersive and structured ones, featuring virtual worlds and AI.
Serious game: examples and applications
Beyond school subjects: the emotional dimension
Serious game are highly cross-disciplinary tools. Learning and the play experience are not limited to academic (or professional) topics, but can also be applied effectively to the emotional, relational, and psychological sphere.
An example is REThink, a serious game for teenagers aged 10 to 16, designed to prevent depression. As explained by Letscom (a science communication portal), the game is based on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT).
The goal is to prevent and reduce the disorder by stimulating rational thinking.
In Italy, the Istituto Superiore di Sanità proposes several games developed within the CCM project “Psychoeducational program for young people on emotional self-regulation to promote conscious use and prevent problematic internet use.”
Famous serious game
One of the first examples of a serious game was SimCity, developed in 1989 by Will Wright. SimCity is a simulation game in which the player manages a virtual city, making decisions about urban planning, public services, and resource management. An entire generation spent hours at their PCs building their own virtual cities.
Another example is Foldit, developed by the University of Washington in 2008. Foldit is a puzzle game in which players fold proteins to create stable configurations, helping researchers develop new drugs to fight diseases such as HIV and cancer.
Another example of a serious game is Re-Mission, developed by HopeLab in 2006. Re-Mission is a game where the player controls a nanorobot that fights cancer inside the human body. The game was designed by Pam Omidyar to help cancer patients better understand their illness and adhere to prescribed therapies.
Learning
An example of a serious game in the training sector is Portal 2, the sequel to Portal, developed by Valve Corporation in 2011.
In the game, the user must solve physics and math problems to progress through levels. Portal 2 has been used in high schools and universities to teach concepts in physics and engineering.
The evolution of Minecraft
Minecraft is one of the most popular games of recent years among Generation Z and Alpha; a video game that, in May 2020, surpassed 200 million copies sold across all platforms.
The world is made of 3D cubic blocks representing different materials such as dirt, sand, stone, wood, water, and lava. The game is based on collecting these blocks with different tools and placing them as you like, building whatever you want.
Teacher Gaming LLC developed Minecraft Edu, a version designed for the school context, with assessment tools and educational missions.
The game also allows the creation of learning activities that meet the needs of all students, so educators can create fully inclusive lessons.
Serious game: Code This Lab games
We have been developing video games since 2009. Over the years, we have received many requests for edugames, especially for school and educational contexts. But not only that.
It may come as a surprise, but many major brands in the market have become interested in the educational and informative side of communication in recent years, in addition to the promotional one. This is the case of the game developed for the supermarket chain LIDL.
Here are some of our games with an educational/training core.
Superfreschi - for LIDL
The game created for LIDL teaches children to eat healthy, to prevent germs and bacteria from “doing their job.” The goal is to collect as many vegetables as possible, a powerful weapon against harmful micro-organisms for the body.
The serious game was featured on LIDL’s official website as part of the launch campaign dedicated to “Superfreschi” foods.
Scale Up - for Carpigiani
Play now! ↑
The game offers a gamified journey designed to share information about a specific professional sector and the distinctive features of the company’s products.
You won’t find only animated characters and challenges: there are also infographics and captions that explore the technical aspects of gelato machines and the commercial scenarios related to the context.
The game focuses on the gelato maker’s career path, a climb toward success that starts with opening the first shop and ends with creating a centralized production lab that supplies multiple stores.
Giochi-amo con la biodiversità - for WWF
For WWF, the well-known organization dedicated to environmental protection, we created an immersive game that brings children into a natural context and lets them interact with different digital activities, from quizzes to informational videos and puzzle games.
The common thread is eco-compatibility and the relationship between humans and the environment.
The serious game was included in an educational plan aimed at primary schools.
Twin the bin - internal project
Twin the Bin is our game that educates about waste sorting, types of materials, and respect for the environment.
The goal is to collect only the materials indicated by the initial inputs, discarding the others.
As you progress, the instructions change and the player must select different items to collect.
The serious game is aimed at primary school children, encouraging the learning of basic concepts through play.
Our game list is broad and diverse: our catalog includes over 300 games.
Advergame, marketing on field, edutainment, gamification, and more
Advergame, marketing on field, edutainment, gamification e molto altro.
Would you like to create a serious game for your project or your client’s project?
Contact us anytime for a digital coffee!
Fonti: Viteco, Dyn Device, Lets Com, Archivio Ed Scuola (tesi: Gioco, Serious Game e gioco di simulazione a scuola), Wikipedia.
Thank you for your time.
