Design Paradox: Instructional Games

Abstract

Current approaches to the design of games for learning can be roughly divided into two main camps: one claiming that commercial games already employ many strategies that are valuable in the design of instructional games and that formal instructional design methodologies are not needed, while the other argues that the design of instructional games must apply traditional practices in formal ways and that games designers must yield to the better-informed professional instructional designer. The main focus of this paper is to explore the tension between these two viewpoints. A comparison of game design and instructional design uncovers several paradoxes which must be reconciled before they can be properly combined to be of use in the development of instructional games. Topics: Cross disciplinary issues in game development; Serious games; Games and learning (educational games); Bridging the academia-industry gap; Experiences and lessons learned from game development in academia and industry