Designing and Evaluating a Serious Game for Learning Artificial Intelligence Algorithms: SpAI War as a Case Study

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) nowadays is the technology of the future, as its applications are constantly expanding in every aspect of human life. The spread of the internet has given a great impetus to technologies that apply AI algorithms and make their presence more and more intense in everyday life. However, despite the ubiquitous presence of AI, few people can comprehend its true meaning and the reason for its existence, especially the way it is applied. The purpose of this work is to present the design and pilot evaluation of SpAI War, which is a serious game that aims to introduce the user–student to the field of AI and its algorithms. Specifically, the paper presents the design of SpAI War in the context of the Educational Games (EG) design framework. This is followed by the results of the pilot evaluation of the game by 58 undergraduates and graduates of Informatics. The study utilized a survey based on the MEEGA+ model, and positive results were recorded in terms of player experience, game scenario, and perceived short-term learning.