Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

Objectives

The objective of the module is to let students use game research to design, develop, and evaluate an e.g. transformational, purposeful, serious game, or other notable genres. This module teaches both the conceptual and theoretical foundation, practical implementation, and methodological approaches for user evaluation of game design. Students must conduct in-depth research of a topic to be used in the game development process, and write a paper documenting the relevant research, methods, and findings. An essential focus of the course is not only to design the game, but also how to perform and document solid and advanced user evaluations. The course will also provide a theoretical foundation (definitions) and applied (how to measure) overview of concepts of e.g. motivation, flow, engagement, immersion, and gamification within a context of game research and development.

Learning objectives

Knowledge

Students who complete the module will obtain:

• knowledge of serious/transformational games with a purpose
• understanding of motivational aspects of games, such as player motivation, flow, engagement, immersion, gamification and other related concepts 
• knowledge on new advanced platforms and game-technologies in which these elements are embedded

Skills

Students who complete the module will be able to: 

• apply data driven design to implement and evaluate a transformational/serious game with a purpose
• apply in-depth research to develop a simple game, part of a game (e.g. an interaction,  a mechanic), or a game-like, playful interaction, or  a gamified experience
• discuss the relevant research and methods, and synthesize findings in a written report

Competences

Students who complete the module will be able to:

• evaluate player experiences, games and gamified elements
• synthesize research based knowledge to create games with a purpose and document the process and findings

Type of instruction

Refer to the overview of instruction types listed in § 17.

Exam

Prerequisite for enrollment for the exam

• To be eligible to take the exam, the student must timely have handed in any mandatory assignments

Exams