Game Features Research Articles

The impact of social media and gamification of a mobile vocabulary learning app: Self-regulation and learning persistence

Scholars indicated that learners who are strategic with their language learning (e.g., self-regulated learning (SRL), cognitive and meta-cognitive strategies) tend to be more efficient, resourceful, and flexible, and thus have better language learning outcomes (Oxford, 2016; Heo et al., 2012; Plonsky, 2011). Besides focusing on knowledge, language learners, as L2 teachers already do, need to prepare themselves with self-regulated learning skills, so they can achieve the target language learning outcomes. This study selected Shanbay Danci (SBDC), a popular mobile vocabulary application (Wang, 2020, Su & Su, 2015), as the intervention. SBDC allows learners to share not only information about their goals but also badges (a gamification feature) demonstrating their learning outcomes. To explore the impacts of the badge-sharing feature on learners’ perceived self-regulation level, vocabulary learning persistence, and self-regulated learning experiences, a total of 77 undergraduates, who were enrolled in College English courses at a Chinese institution, participated in the study. Results showed participants in the badge-sharing group (experimental) tended to have significantly higher SRL levels (e.g., better management of time and the learning environment, being more strategic in completing tasks, selecting an appropriate learning environment, setting learning goals, and self-evaluating their learning progress) than those in the control group who were not enrolled in any badge sharing group. Moreover, those in the badge-sharing group demonstrated higher persistence in learning vocabulary, with a completion rate of 70%, versus 56% in the control group. Qualitative results indicated that badge sharing enhanced learners’ self and shared regulation capacity in the process of learning vocabulary.

Identifying Customer Satisfaction Characteristics with the Kano Model for the Agile Development of Video Games

Purpose: This study aims to use the Kano Model to identify critical attributes that can be used as features in video games developed using Agile software development. Methodology/Approach: Attributes were identified from the literature review and then selected for a survey given to university participants. Survey results were then analysed using the Kano Model table and a scatter plot. The survey identified respondents' preferences in video games. The survey responses were reanalysed using stratification by video game type. Findings: No one-dimensional attribute was found that would be critical to video game customers. Only a limited number of attractive attributes were identified from the aggregated data. Research Limitation/Implication: The analysis by type of video games had low sample sizes. Additionally, people from outside the target group responded to the survey. Originality/Value of paper: This paper identifies attributes to prioritise when developing a product and demonstrates the need to consider market segmentation when using the Kano Model.

Idle Games: A Cozy Genre Turned Exploitative

This paper explores the connection between cozy games and idle games, analyzing shared elements and underlying principles. Cozy games are characterized by an emphasis on comfort, relaxation, and safety, offering players an escape from the pressure of daily life through soothing gameplay experiences. Meanwhile, idle games feature waiting as a core mechanic, allowing progress to be made even in the player’s absence. This provides a continuous sense of growth and progression throughout the player’s day but may also lead to frequent engagements to optimize production. Furthermore, this desire for continuous progress may also be exploited by developers who capitalize on player impatience by incorporating microtransactions that expedite progression in exchange for real-world money. Thus, while idle games can fit within the cozy game genre, their monetization practices raise questions about ethical responsibility on the part of game developers and taint the genre’s potential as a serene gaming experience.

The Correlation of Student Engagement using Kahoot on Learning Outcomes in Junior High School

This study aims to explore the relationship between the use of Kahoot and student engagement in learning at SMP Negeri 22 Samarinda, focusing on addressing the issue of low student engagement and how Kahoot can potentially enhance it. A correlational quantitative research design was employed, with a randomly selected sample of students from class VII B. Data were collected through both observations and surveys. The findings revealed a significant positive correlation between the use of Kahoot and student engagement, indicating that Kahoot's interactive and gamified features effectively increased student participation and focus in the learning process. Additionally, the study found that this enhanced engagement positively impacted students' learning outcomes. The results suggest that the integration of Kahoot as an educational tool can improve student motivation, interactivity, and overall satisfaction, making it an effective method for increasing engagement and boosting academic achievement. These findings are expected to provide valuable insights for educators seeking to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes through the use of technology.

Gamification and Immersive Experiences: A Gamified Approach for Promoting Active Aging

With the global population of individuals aged 60 and above steadily increasing, the need for effective and realistic solutions to promote healthy aging has become imperative. Leveraging the potential of serious games, gamification, and immersive technologies, this study focuses on developing and implementing a practical and tailored gamified platform to foster active aging in older adults. This platform was designed to incorporate game elements such as points, badges, levels, rankings, achievements, and immersive 360-degree images to provide a realistic and captivating user experience. Six distinct games and challenges have been developed through an extensive and iterative design process, each carefully calibrated to accommodate the aging population’s diverse cognitive abilities and interests. By combining the engagement-enhancing features of gamification with the immersive realism of 360-degree images, our platform offers a gamified and immersive solution for older adults. The gamified experiences are enjoyable and directly target cognitive functions, enhancing memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. The platform’s design has been refined through user feedback and usability testing, ensuring its relevance and effectiveness in real-life scenarios. The outcomes of this research shed light on a practical approach to active aging, emphasizing the importance of incorporating gaming experiences to engage and stimulate older adults. This study provides insights for the design and implementation of future interventions aimed at promoting digital literacy and technological proficiency among older populations, ultimately contributing to their active and fulfilling participation in the digital age.

Gaming the City: The Monetization of Urban Affect and Homemaking in Popular Video Games

Digital gaming has become a major global cultural industry, and many popular video games feature cityscapes. While scholars have critiqued the neoliberal and dystopian representations of urban environments, much less attention is given to how video games offer players a sense of belonging: an immersive city where they can feel at home. Game developers create affective urban worlds to attract and maintain a large player base for continuous revenue. We argue that high-budget and popular video games balance a chaotic urban gamescape with opportunities for privatized homemaking that keep players engaged. First, they use emergent gameplay to simulate the urban environment as sensational places where players must prepare for unpredictable, often dangerous, and violent encounters. Second, they provide players with homemaking opportunities and the means to own and curate private spaces. These opportunities, however, reflect and perpetuate a privatized purpose of homemaking that perpetuates gendered and capitalistic assumptions, socializing players into engaging with urban life in a very selective manner. While we analyze several video games, GTA V provides a specific example of how this homemaking is monetized. Our analysis combines scholarly debates on affective geographies and gamescapes.

Physiological and Nutritional Considerations for Elite Squash: A Systematic Review

Abstract Purpose To systematically review all the physiological and nutritional research conducted in squash to guide practitioners and researchers on how best to interpret the data, while identifying gaps in the literature to determine future directions of research within squash. Methods Following PRISMA guidelines, studies investigating an aspect of physiology or nutrition within squash were identified using scientific databases CINAHL, MEDLINE, PUBMED, and SPORTDiscus, from March 2022 to October 2023. Results Of the 1208 studies identified, 35 met the inclusion criteria across a variety of physiological and nutritional topics, such as the physiological demands of squash, anthropometric and physiological characteristics of squash players, squash-specific performance tests, training demands of squash, nutritional requirements of squash, hydration demands of squash, nutrition knowledge of squash players, and nutritional supplements for squash players. Ten studies had poor methodological quality, 19 as fair, four as good, and two as excellent. Seventeen out of 35 studies included were undertaken post the 2009 rule change, and 14 studies were conducted on either elite or world class players. Twenty-nine of the studies involved male players, with 15 involving female players. Conclusion Much of the physiological and nutritional literature is of low quality and outdated. We present future research focuses throughout the review, such as quantifying the game characteristics of male and female players, the energy expenditures during a training and competition microcycle, and the efficacy of certain nutritional supplements. These efforts aim to create sport specific guidelines and advance evidence-based practice within squash.

Effect of match location on the playing style of teams coached by 'Pep' Guardiola.

Analysis in football seeks to find the performance factors that bring teams closer to success. This study aims to analyze the playing styles of two teams managed by Pep Guardiola (F.C. Barcelona and Manchester City) based on match location (home or away). Two methods of analysis were used: descriptive statistics through chi-square tests to evaluate game characteristics and the polar coordinates technique to analyze the relationships between the different lines of each team (goalkeeper, defenders, midfielders, and forwards). The results showed that F.C. Barcelona maintained a consistent playing style regardless of location, exhibiting significant differences only in actions that involved shots or header (p = 0.035), with better performance at home. In contrast, Manchester City displayed significantly different performance in action success (p < 0.001), level of play elaboration (p = 0.004), density (p = 0.033), duration (p = 0.036), and actions that included a shot (p = 0.001) depending on the location. Additionally, qualitative analyses revealed differences in the relationships among the team lines according to match location, with Manchester City displaying more variability in these interactions than F.C. Barcelona. The study concludes that although Guardiola applies a consistent set of strategies, match location has a greater influence on Manchester City's performance, suggesting that this team adjusts its playing style on the basis of contextual conditions. These findings highlight the importance of considering factors such as location when preparing tactics to increase the probability of success in elite football.

Gender differences in internet gaming among university students: a discriminant analysis.

Research on gaming and gaming habits has predominantly focused on younger populations, particularly males. The main objective of this study was to analyze gender-based differences in gamer profiles, considering variables related to gaming habits and the gaming community. A total of 180 Spanish university students currently engaged in video gaming (M = 21.51 years, SD = 3.09, 57.4% male) participated in the study by completing an online questionnaire addressing gaming characteristics such as the age of onset, gaming hours, motives of gaming, and perceived toxicity in the video gaming community. The results revealed statistically significant gender differences in the age of gaming initiation, weekly gaming hours, community toxicity, and several gaming motivations, including customization, cognitive challenge, violent gratification, and social interaction. Linear discriminant analysis identified that higher scores in the age of initiation and customization, along with lower scores in violent gratification and community toxicity, formed the combination of predictor variables that most strongly distinguished between genders. Understanding these gender differences is essential for capturing current gaming trends and addressing the needs of diverse gamers. Finally, the potential clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

Unreal Games

Throughout the history of game studies, intellectual debates have sought to identify scholars have reflected on the essential features of games. In the past decade, these discussions have extended beyond academia to the broader gaming community, where certain genres have been elevated as “real games.” Genres like walking simulators, dating sims, visual novels, and hybrid forms are often at the center of these debates. , criticized for their simplicity, lack of challenge, or sometimes overtly sexual content. Despite this, the popularity of these genres is undeniable: since 2007, over 50,000 titles have been documented on the Visual Novel Database, and thousands of walking simulators are available on Steam and other platforms. Many of these titles also appear on MobyGames and have been referenced as “games” throughout history. In this article, we delve into this vast and often overlooked corpus to examine the qualities that can elevate gameplay to unreal levels.

Enhancing visitor experiences and economic outcomes through gamified AR: The impact of a Location-Based Augmented Reality Game in agritourism

Agritourism merges agricultural activities with tourism, offering visitors immersive and educational experiences. While augmented reality (AR) has been studied in various tourism contexts, limited research explores its application in agritourism. This study explores the integration of a location-based augmented reality game (LBARG) into agritourism, assessing its impact on visitor experiences, time spent, spending behavior, and revisit intentions. To compare the quality of experiences, revisit intentions, spending, and time spent between the intervention and control groups, a one-way MANOVA was conducted. Pearson correlation analysis examined the relationship between coupons received and spending. Linear regressions explored the impact of game features (e.g., voucher redemption, exploration, coin collection, spinning the wheel) on revisit intentions, time spent, and spending. These analyses highlighted the connections between game features, user behavior, and spending patterns. The findings reveal that a LBARG significantly enhances immediate visitor experiences and spending, although it do not significantly increase revisit intentions. This research provides empirical evidence on the impact of LBARGs in agritourism, showing that augmented reality technologies can enhance visitor engagement and spending at agritourism sites.

Effectiveness of gamified intelligent tutoring in physical education through the lens of self-determination theory

Scholars have recommended the application of an intelligent tutoring and instant feedback system (ITIFS) to enhance students’ motor skills performance by automatically evaluating their learning performance and providing personalized guidance and feedback. However, solely providing personalized evaluation and feedback may not necessarily attract students' active and sustained engagement in practice. In particular, it is difficult to arouse students' enthusiasm to participate in sports that require repetitive practice to improve their physical abilities and which involve less interaction with the environment and their opponents. To address this issue, grounded in self-determination theory (SDT), the present study integrated a gamification mechanism that aligned with students’ psychological needs into an ITIFS. The gamification features included avatars, achievements (personal ratings and rankings), badges, levels, and social networks (group ratings and rankings). It aimed to attract students to engage continuously in practice, and to address the issue of students lacking motivation to engage in repeated practice. To investigate the effectiveness of the proposed method, a quasi-experimental research design was adopted, and the collected data were analyzed with analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), independent samples t tests and qualitative coding. Two classes of university students participated in the experiment. One class (N = 80) was the experimental group adopting the SDT-based gamified ITIFS (G-ITIFS), and the other class (N = 76) was the control group adopting the conventional ITIFS (C-ITIFS). The findings indicated that the experimental group showed significantly better yoga skills performance and learning engagement compared to the control group. Feedback from students also revealed that the gamification mechanism provided more excitement and had positive impacts, satisfying students’ psychological needs and reinforcing the learning benefits. The findings of the present study revealed that, from the perspective of SDT, incorporating gamification elements into the development of ITIFS could be a promising approach for physical education. Therefore, it is strongly encouraged that educators promote such a gamified intelligent tutoring mode in physical education curriculums as it is crucial to the development of students' physical and mental health, as well as to their enthusiasm to participate in sports.

Construction and application of the multidimensional quantitative model for game evaluation

Abstract. This article is a modeling study on the self-rating of board games. This article has reviewed and understood board games and various indicators of board games and stated the background of the topic and the questions raised. It has determined the dimensions of game characteristics that need to be evaluated. Through keyword retrieval, the text is transformed into the required numerical information, and through public calculation, the required data is obtained to fit the geek ratings and average player ratings of the 25 games in the target. Next, analyze the specific issues of each data through descriptive statistics. Then, through correlation analysis, which indicators are related were obtained, and a series of conclusions were drawn. Next, a second linear regression analysis will be conducted on the Geek rating and average rating, and a series of conclusions will be drawn. Summarize the conclusion, consider the advantages of the model, and reflect on the shortcomings of the model. Use sensitivity analysis to check if the conclusion is complete. This article randomly selected a game and analyzed it through a model. And draw relevant conclusions. Finally, the analysis and summary improved the modeling.

GAMIFICATION AS AN INNOVATIVE METHOD OF TEACHING PHYSICAL CULTURE IN THE CONTEXT OF NEW UKRAINIAN SCHOOL

The article explores the features of gamification as an innovative method of teaching physical education in secondary schools. It is determined that the use of the game approach significantly increases the effectiveness of the educational process.It has also been determined that game elements have the ability to hold the attention of players for a long time. Therefore, this method has broad prospects for use in the educational process, in particular, in teaching physical education. The game can be both a means and a form of self-control in learning. When applying the gamification method in teaching, the teacher uses various game strategies that increase students’ interest in learning and form long-term motivation.The article analyzes how the use of gamified practices contributes to the development of competencies defined by the concept of the New ukrainian school, in particular, the competence of a healthy lifestyle. It is realized through physical education lessons and extracurricular forms of physical education.Gamification of the learning process involves game design ‒ visualization of educational material in a game style. This makes learning material more accessible, diverse, and interesting for students. Gamification of learning implies that the teacher introduces elements of computer games, social networks, and other digital media popular among students into the educational process. This helps to create a comfortable learning environment for students and increase their motivation.The main tools of gamification in physical education lessons are considered. Particularly effective are the use of non-standard classes and equipment, the flipped classroom method, the use of various activities, team interaction, individual development, interactive method, and the use of modern technologies.

Cartography of board games

ABSTRACT This paper focuses on the maps and map-like features in games. It discusses games with special topics or components, and it collects several titles of games named after a geographical object (city, land, etc.). Finally, it provides a proposed classification of the types of maps observed in the board games investigated. The popularity of board games has been increasing in an unstoppable way in the last years. Several modern board games work with maps or with map-like features. This article focuses on the maps and map-like features in games and attempts to classify the types of map in board games. The board games usually use maps on the main board. There are games that work with the map of the World in various map scales. These maps sometimes look as if they were old maps or they represented the present world. Some games' main board is similar to a map series or a classic atlas. Modular boards help to increase the replayability and give another experience game by game. Other games work with tiles (square, rectanglular or hexagonal shaped) representing a terrain type (forest, moorland, farmland, built in area, etc.). The tiles have to be placed next to each other, thereby the players can collect victory points. Fantasy maps depict fictional worlds: this helps the players to imagine better the fictional world and the characters. Fantasy maps often use partially orthogonal projection and partially bird's eye view.

Adaptive Tabu Search Algorithm Based on Quantum Dwelling and KNN Classifier for Creative Game Selection in Preschool Education

In order to select the best creative games for preschool education more quickly and accurately, a method for selecting creative games for preschool education based on tabu search tabu search (TS) algorithm is proposed. The TS algorithm is improved by using quantum population, and an adaptive neighborhood mapping mechanism is formed to dynamically adjust the tabu length and accelerate the convergence of the algorithm. The KNN algorithm is used to calculate the initial solution of the characteristics of preschool creative games, and the quantum adaptive optimization tabu search algorithm is used to iterate from the initial solution, and the subset of feature vectors containing feature weights and feature selection vectors is continuously searched as the input of KNN classifier. The improved objective function is used as a guide to combine the selection results of classifiers by simple voting, and the output of the selection results of creative games in preschool education is realized. Experiments show that this method can select more critical features of creative games in preschool education at a faster speed while ensuring the accuracy of the selection results. At the same time, the improved tabu search algorithm has faster convergence speed and better search performance, and can recommend creative games that are most suitable for preschool education according to the actual situation.

Exergaming interventions for older adults: The effect of game characteristics on gameplay

PurposeExergames can be used to train physical and cognitive abilities and have been shown to be effective in reducing the risk of falls in older adults. However, there is limited evidence about how people play exergames and how gameplay is affected by game settings and, thus, the potential training effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of repeated exergaming sessions over 4 weeks and two game settings (difficulty level and game speed) on gameplay (performance, physical activity and perceived exertion) in older adults over a four-week exergaming intervention. Methods28 independently living older adults (mean age 74.47 years; 14 females) played two different exergames (Puzzle and Fox) at two difficulty levels 3× per week for 4 weeks. Physical activity measures from an accelerometer at the lower back, performance as game scores from the exergaming system, and self-reported measures of physical and cognitive exertion were collected at sessions 1,2,3,6,9 and 12. ResultsFor the Puzzle game, performance and physical activity increased significantly across the 12 training sessions. For the Fox game, an increased game speed was associated with increased performance, physical activity, and exertion across the exergaming sessions. Across all exergaming sessions, increasing difficulty by adding cognitive elements decreased the performance and amount of physical activity. ConclusionGame characteristics significantly influence how the exergames are played during a 4-week exergaming intervention. Hence, individual tailoring of the difficulty level and game speed is important. This study highlights the importance of understanding the interplay between game characteristics and gameplay during an exergaming intervention, thereby adding critical information for interpreting intervention effects – or the lack thereof.

Balancing Playability and Historical Accuracy in Game Design - Developing the Struve Geodetic Arc Mobile Game

Numerous digital games and media with historical themes aim to educate or engage audiences with heritage. When developing a historical video game, some of the most critical design decisions are centered around finding the balance between an accurate presentation of historical facts and engaging gameplay. This paper examines the game developer's role in selecting and presenting historical content through a case study of a mobile game development process. The design choices and developers' positions related to using historical facts are examined through thematic analysis of interview data and game design documents. Recurring themes in the data reveal a constant interplay between game features and historical content, supported by historical knowledge and technology. In small teams, individual developers often make crucial design decisions while performing multiple roles. As key findings, we report that the resourcing and timing of historical research significantly impacts developers' decisions, and note varying degrees of interest in historical accuracy within the development team.

Gamification: characteristics, trends, risks

Digital technologies development stimulates game elements inclusion into culture and different spheres of society. The identification of regularities and specifics of this process became the purpose of the study. The research methodology was based on the J. Huizing’s “man playing” concept and K. Verbach’s system description of gamification mechanisms. On the basis of these concepts, a grid of typical features of gamification has been compiled and gamification processes in different sociospheres analyzed. The research methods included the emerging gamification practices analysis. Based on the analysis results, trends and risks of implementing the game element into culture have been identified. The complex influence of gamification process on society and culture is manifested by consumers’ demand for interactivity, personal participation, and involvement (immersiveness) in almost all types of activities. These needs are strengthened under the influence of clip culture, making it easier for individuals to assimilate disparate and fragmented pieces of information. The request for immersiveness is closely related to the human need to be the author of the “text”, to control the plot, to create a plurality of readings (hypertext). It has been shown that gamification stimulates innovation in various areas, leads to the emergence of new products, processes, and services. The main risks of gamification development have been highlighted: hyperorientation to entertainment in areas that traditionally involve effort, and manipulation of people’s behavior in areas related to “shoulds”.

Enhancing Literacy and Numeracy: Developing Snakes and Ladders Oriented Toward Higher Order Thinking Skills

This research aims to develop learning media for the snake and ladder game oriented toward higher-order thinking Skills (HOTS) to enhance literacy and numeracy in elementary schools. The method used is Research and Development (RD) with the ADDIE model. The subjects of this research are fifth-grade students. The instruments include validation sheets for content and design experts and teacher and student response questionnaires. Instrument testing was conducted using a feasibility validity test. Data collection techniques involve document analysis, observation, interviews, questionnaires, and tests. Data analysis was performed using descriptive analysis and descriptive statistics. The results show that the snake and ladder media received a validation score of 0.91 from content experts and 0.93 from design experts. Teacher responses scored 0.94, while student responses reached 0.93, indicating excellent criteria. This media also enhanced students' literacy and numeracy skills, with average scores of 69.22 in Cycle 1 and 85.55 in Cycle 2. Based on these results, improving game features and increasing the variety of HOTS questions is recommended.