Game Engine Research Articles

Precision game engineering through reshaping strategic payoffs

Nash equilibrium is a key concept in game theory fundamental for elucidating the equilibrium state of strategic interactions, with applications in diverse fields such as economics, political science, and biology. However, the Nash equilibrium may not always align with desired outcomes within the broader system. This article introduces a novel game engineering framework that tweaks strategic payoffs within a game to achieve a pre-defined desired Nash equilibrium while averting undesired ones. Leveraging mixed-integer linear programming, this framework identifies intricate combinations of players and strategies and optimal perturbations to their payoffs that enable the shift from undesirable Nash equilibria to more favorable ones. We demonstrate the effectiveness and scalability of our approach on games of varying complexity, ranging from simple prototype games such as the Prisoner’s Dilemma and Snowdrift games with two or more players to complex game configurations with up to 106\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${10}^{6}$$\\end{document} entries in the payoff matrix. These studies showcase the capability of this framework in efficiently identifying the alternative ways of reshaping strategic payoffs to secure desired Nash equilibria and preclude undesired equilibrium states. Our game engineering framework offers a versatile toolkit for precision strategic decision-making with far-reaching implications across diverse domains.

Outcomes of Providing Children Aged 7-12 Years With Access to Evidence-Based Anxiety Treatment Via a Standalone Digital Intervention Using Immersive Gaming Technology: Real-World Evaluation.

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions in childhood, but most children with anxiety disorders do not access evidence-based interventions. The delivery of therapeutic interventions via digital technologies has been proposed to significantly increase timely access to evidence-based treatment. Lumi Nova (BfB Labs Limited) is a digital therapeutic intervention designed to deliver evidence-based anxiety treatment for those aged 7-12 years through a mobile app incorporating immersive gaming technology. We aimed to evaluate the real-world impact of providing access to Lumi Nova through UK National Health Service-funded mental health services. We analyzed precollected anonymized data routinely captured through the implementation of Lumi Nova from children aged 7-12 years, who lived in the United Kingdom and had the opportunity to use the intervention for at least 1 week over an 18-month period. Engagement indices included whether the game key was activated, number of unique sessions, time spent engaging, and number of "challenges" completed. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Goal-Based Outcomes measure and Child Outcome Rating Scale. Demographic data were analyzed to assess the health equality implications of Lumi Nova. Of 1029 eligible families invited to use Lumi Nova, 644 (62.5%) activated their game key, of whom 374 (58.1%) completed at least one in-game graded exposure challenge. The median number of unique sessions was 6 (IQR 3-12) and the median time spent engaging with the intervention was 42 (IQR 15-79) minutes. For the subset of young people with paired outcomes, there were statistically significant small to medium improvements in goal-based outcome scores (n=224; t223=5.78, P<.001; d=0.37, 95% CI 0.25-0.52) and Child Outcome Rating Scale scores (n=123; t122=5.10, P<.001; d=0.46, 95% CI 0.27-0.65) between the first and last data points. Two in 5 young people's scores reflected a change that would be considered reliable. Analysis of demographic characteristics tentatively suggested that children from ethnic minority backgrounds and those living in the most deprived neighbourhoods may be less likely to access Lumi Nova, but children from socioeconomically deprived areas were more likely to successfully complete a challenge once they accessed the intervention (P=.02). However, the level of missing data and small number of children in some demographic groups limited meaningful statistical comparisons. This study provides initial evidence that Lumi Nova may be associated with improved outcomes for those aged 7-12 years seeking anxiety treatment in real-world settings. However, the lack of a control comparator group and information about concurrent treatments accessed by the young people, in addition to substantial attrition, limited the analysis that could be conducted and confidence in the conclusions drawn.

Development of 3D UDTs for Traffic Monitoring in Unreal 5 Game Engine

Abstract. Digital Twins recently, are a much regarded research topic in geospatial engineering, offering great potential for optimization of a variety of interrelated processes in urban environments. A major component of a Digital Twin use case is real-time sensor data input and analysis, which is used as foundation for simulations that lead to decision-support for authorities or even automatic response into the physical environment. The use of game engines as platform for urban Digital Twin use cases is promising due to superior visualization and animation capabilities, that facilitate diverse monitoring use cases for highly dynamic sensor data inputs. This contribution evaluates the fit for purpose of the Unreal Engine 5 game engine for digital twin use cases, by conducting a case study on urban traffic monitoring in the city of Liverpool Australia. The case study proved, that the necessary connections of static data provided via a geodatabase and dynamic real-time data from public portals can be integrated into the engine to establish an interactive Digital Twin use cases for evaluating traffic user interactions.

An Experimental Study to Explore the Effectiveness of a 3D Maritime Serious Game Prototype: Maritime Leaders at Sea

This paper conducts a comprehensive experimental study designed to investigate the effectiveness of a maritime serious game called Maritime Leaders at Sea (ML@S). The 3D cutting-edge prototype targets to enhance leadership and teamwork skills of undergraduate maritime students via engaging them in immersive gameplay scenarios reflective of real-world challenges at sea. Competing the ML@S sessions, the number of 76 students were included in the feedback assessment survey to assess their perceptions and attitudes on the simulated environment. The feedback is also linked to the learning analytics perspective to involve time and scoring data of players through different levels at operational scenarios. Preliminary analyses reveal promising results, suggesting a positive correlation between participation in ML@S, feedbacks after sessions, and improvements in leadership and teamwork as key competencies. It is anticipated that this study will make significant contributions towards game developers, technology start-ups, educational institutions, and global shipping companies. The implications of the study offer valuable insights for the development of future serious games aimed at enhancing essential skills of maritime human resources in dynamic and high-stakes environments.

A study on the digital restoration of an ancient city based on historic building information modeling of wooden architectural heritage: focusing on Suwon Hwaseong

This study describes the process of digitally reconstructing the ancient Korean city of Suwon Hwaseong in 3D utilizing Historic Building Information Modeling (HBIM) resources to accurately represent its wooden architectural heritage. Previous 3D reconstructions of cultural heritage have often prioritized appearance or remained partially disassembled. However, our reconstruction method offers a comprehensive representation of the appearance and the internal structure of wooden architectural heritage, which can be suitable for restoration maintenance. To ensure accuracy in digital restoration, we collected and utilized administrative records and historical materials, including the geography, fortress walls, folk houses, and Haenggung (the temporary palace of the Joseon Dynasty)—drawing from the archive of the Korean Cultural Heritage Service’s management records and the 1796 manuscript “Uigwe: Royal Protocols of the Hwaseong Fortress” which documents the construction of the ancient city of Suwon Hwaseong. Extensive architectural records were used to generate HBIM data, which digitized historical records, documents, and drawings to accurately represent the complex layout of the wooden architectural heritage. For the folk houses that lacked design records and the fortress walls that retained their original shape, we performed a digital restoration-based façade modeling. These elements of the ancient city of Suwon Hwaseong were assembled into a 3D model using Unreal Engine (version 5.1.1) to digitally reconstruct the city and enhance its visual representation. The digital restoration content, which utilizes visual effects and precise rendering from a game engine, can be used for the restoration, repair, and maintenance of both appearance and internal structures.

A Virtual Reality Tool for Accuracy Assessment of 3D Models in an Immersive Virtual Environment

Abstract. Accurate validation and assessment techniques are essential for ensuring the reliability of spatial reconstructions derived from photogrammetry, enabling well-informed decision-making across diverse domains. This study presents a Virtual Reality (VR) based accuracy assessment tool tailored for evaluating the accuracy and quality of 3D models generated by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Leveraging the Unity game engine platform, our workflow entails three key steps: aligning real-world coordinates with an arbitrary Unity coordinate system, transforming the positions of Ground Control Points (GCPs) from field survey to the arbitrary system using a reference GCP, and marking observed points on the 3D models. Absolute and Relative Root Mean Square Errors (RMSE), Mean Errors (ME), and Standard Deviation of errors (SD) are computed within the virtual environment via the game object transform properties. The error distributions around each GCP are visually depicted using Unity game engine components for enhanced interaction and comprehension. The efficacy of the tool is validated through experimentation on four 3D models generated from varying camera angles during UAV data capture. The tool provides the opportunity to directly interact with the 3D models and visualize the errors, which is quite distinct from traditional methods. Using the developed tool, results were obtained to indicate that configurations employing camera angles of 60° + 75º exhibit notable performance in terms of relative and absolute accuracy.

Scientific knowledge in pedagogy about learning tools

A scientific review of the problems that are relevant for researchers in the field of education in the last decade is presented. The issues of the content of education and its impact on the surrounding reality were considered by researchers from different fields of scientific knowledge: sociology, cultural studies, history, philosophy, political science, psychology. Scientific publications note that changes in education and its impact on personality occur due to various tools of the educational process, which can be identified in the generalized definition of «learning tools». The analysis of scientific literature and regulatory documents in the field of educational services in the Russian Federation allowed us to identify research areas that are of priority importance for pedagogical practice. It is significant for the authors to use a set of exercises, educational courses, design methods, situational tasks, and game technologies to form professional competencies of specialists. Most researchers note the need to justify the use of digital technologies to solve innovative pedagogical tasks. The scientific publications included in the review attempt to develop criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of teaching tools used in educational practice, their ranking and classification on various grounds, as well as the didactic potential of digital educational resources.

Redefining Entertainment Horizons: Epic Games and Netflix’s Quest for Future Dominance

In the rapidly evolving and ever-changing media and entertainment landscape, Epic Games, Inc. And Netflix, Inc. are seen as innovators in the industry. This paper analyzes the strategic layout of Epic Games and Netflix in the market competition, focusing on how they compete for dominance in digital entertainment. Built on its Unreal Engine and extensive gaming ecosystem, Epic Games is committed to pushing the frontiers of gaming technology and expanding into virtual and augmented reality. Netflix, by contrast, has strengthened its global leadership in streaming through continued innovation and content diversification. This article provides a thorough analysis of their business model, strategy, and required changes, and explores how these factors have helped them continue to dominate the market. Finally, the paper summarizes the trends of Epic Games and Netflix in the future digital entertainment market and evaluates their potential opportunities and risks in the global competition.

How Boardgame Players Imagine Interacting With Technology

Modern digitally-augmented boardgames have, with few exceptions, relied primarily on mobile devices rather than taking advantage of other components such as microcontrollers, sensors, and actuators. What alternative shapes might such games take? And what types of player experiences might such games support? To begin to map out answers to these questions, we collected information about how 31 hobbyist boardgame players envision interacting with technology in future analogue-digital hybrid games, using a rapid idea generation activity. We employed a qualitative content analysis approach to identify their envisioned game components, player interactions with these components, and game effects triggered by these interactions. From this analysis, we constructed a taxonomy of analogue-digital hybrid board games as envisioned by players. This paper uses the taxonomy to organise a detailed discussion of players' imagined interactions. This work thus contributes a player-centric exploration of the design space of hybrid digital-analogue games, with the aim of inspiring new, alternative approaches to boardgame design. Based on the taxonomy, we have additionally released a free and open-source ideation card deck to support new avenues into the design of future hybrid games.

ОЙЫН ТЕХНОЛОГИЯСЫНЫҢ ЭЛЕМЕНТТЕРІН ПАЙДАЛАНУ ӘДІСТЕРІ

The article describes the importance of game technology. Discusses the interaction between education and play and how they become effective tools for learning physics. The proposed methods are designed to increase students' interest and make the learning process more effective. Along with education, the student is told that games help develop personal and social skills such as teamwork, leadership, collaborative learning or decision making. And one should not forget the classification of players created by Richard Bartle when using game technology. Because the number of students in one class is usually not small. It is important that it is a fun game for all of them. Let's take a quick look at the games. Hot Potatoes is a game development site. Through this site, we can use tools such as JCloze for creating fill-in-the-blank exercises, JMatch for matching/ordering activities, and Jquiz for creating multiple-choice or short-answer questions. But this site does not consider individual chapters. Generalization is intended for building vectors for students. Scratch is a site where students can create animated videos. This site is not based on specific chapters or even subjects. Games can be created according to everyone's imagination. But due to the limited resources, the games are simple. The article analyzes a computer game for teaching the theory of relativity in physics. During the game, students can understand relative motions and basic principles of relativistic physics. The game explores Newton's laws and inertial motion, but has nothing to do with atomic physics. The article discusses the effectiveness of using games in teaching physics and chemistry in a foreign language. Games help students actively participate in the lesson and develop cognitive, affective, psychomotor skills. The article shows how educational games contribute to the development of cognitive and social skills. Overall, the methods presented in each article demonstrate the many advantages of using games effectively in education. They are aimed at increasing students' activity, deepening their understanding of scientific concepts and improving memory.

Air Canvas Using MediaPipe for Computer Vision in Unity 3D Hand Tracking

In this paper, we present the implementation of an Air Canvas using MediaPipe for Computer Vision within a 3D environment using the Unity Game Engine. In our previous work, we found that, regardless of the initial parameters, simulations often led to rapid extinctions. In this model, we implemented an Air Canvas and Computer Vision system integrated with Unity’s 3D World. Our goal was to achieve system stabilization, long-term operation, and more realistic simulation by incorporating 3D evolution. Using the Unity Game Engine, we created and managed a closed 3D ecosystem environment, either based on artificial or real-world maps. This simulation of ecosystems and the analysis of the data generated can serve as a starting point for further research, particularly in sustainability. Our system is openly accessible, allowing users to customize and upload their parameters, maps, and objects, and define inheritance and behavioural patterns, enabling them to test their hypotheses based on the data generated. The goal of this article is not to create and validate a model but to provide an IT tool. For evolutionary researchers, the system allows the creation and presentation of simulations, including animated conference presentations for enhanced visualization and engagement. The use of 3D simulation is particularly valuable for educational purposes, engaging students and increasing their interest in 3D interactive worlds. Students can observe how ecosystems behave, how natural selection supports adaptability, and how competition impacts species.

Integration and Promotion: Integrating Sustainability Research into Computer Science Teaching through Serious Games Assignments

“Serious Games” is a final-year 20 credit point module, undertaken as the default optional module for students on Undergraduate courses entitled BSc Computing and BSc Computer Science (Games Technology) at Nottingham Trent University, UK. The module focuses on developing students’ critical evaluation skills, enhancing their ability to design and implement solutions for a real-world design brief, working with clients and making final products accessible to a broad target audience. Historically this was achieved through engagement with a single client, often via a wider research project or local educational establishment of some sort. More recently, the module has retained two client project briefs, which the students are then empowered to choose between. With each client brief the module team has sought to add extra value for the students. For the previous two academic years, the module team has partnered with Green Academy, a strategic team within the University whose priorities include stimulating pedagogical innovation and practice sharing within the area of sustainability and pioneering a shared understanding of sustainability education. The resulting partnership has introduced a brief for students which combines vital industry skills with sustainability literacy. Working with and alongside the students who are undertaking the module, the module has developed Serious Games on a diverse range of local and global sustainability issues and has exposed students to university research culture and our sustainability research specialisms. It has also necessitated that students engage with and contextualise the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the UNESCO ESD competencies which they are tasked with integrating into their design solutions. The long-term intent of this partnership is for these design decisions to be utilised in the Green Academy’s ongoing strategy to further enhance the University’s pedagogical framework and sustainability education offer, and to improve the provision of Serious Games for use by clients outside the University. This report is a synoptic overview of the module design and insights from the two-year partnership as well as how these observations have been leveraged to improve the design and delivery of the module for future clients and students.

An Antibullying and Therapeutic Interactive Visual Novel: TheraBuddy

This proceeding is an ongoing doctoral dissertation that will examine the effect of a serious game on bullying participant roles and social-emotional well-being. "This serious game, which is called TheraBuddy, is a Turkish interactive visual novel that is aimed at helping children and youth using cognitive-behavioral counseling and solution-focused counseling techniques." The protagonist of TheraBuddy is the player. According to story, the player is transfered to a school where bullying incidents occur. The player makes friends named Elma, Den, and Lu at this school. The player’s goal during the story is to offer solution-focused or cognitive-behavioral help to friends involved in bullying incidents, whether as victims or perpetrators. TheraBuddy consists of nine parts, including an introduction and eight chapters. Throughout the story, two characters named Ozguro and Bilgin help the player make choices, and the story of TheraBuddy continues according to the player’s choices. TheraBuddy was coded and hosted using the Ren'Py game engine. Characters and backgrounds were designed through Canva, and the TheraBuddy characters were voiced using Elevenlabs AI Voice Generator. As a result, an interactive anti-bullying game that is currently only playable offline has been developed. Work is currently being done to make this offline game a web-based game. It is believed that TheraBuddy will be helpful in combating bullying and strengthening students socially and emotionally. In the future, when the online version of TheraBuddy is completed, this belief will be tested under experimental conditions.

Acceptance and use of Video Games for Education by Secondary School Teachers

Video games (VGs) are frequently described as a transformational force within education and the use of video game technology for learning is becoming more common across all education sectors. Despite this, most literature regarding VGs in education focuses on measuring specific learning or engagement outcomes, and there is less of an emphasis on the attitudes of teachers on the uses of VGs in the classroom. A comprehensive understanding of teacher attitudes towards VGs within education is essential for their successful implementation within the classroom. This paper will present the development and progress of a PhD project that aims to explore the factors that influence secondary Australian teachers’ attitudes towards, and intentions to use, VGs within their own teaching. An online survey was used to collect data on teacher beliefs about technology and VGs and the factors that influence VG acceptance. A subsample of participants were also interviewed about their experiences and opinions in relation to VGs. This paper focuses on the proposed thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews. Respondents were divided into groups based on their opinions of, and level of experience with, VGs in teaching. The qualitative results provide a detailed and nuanced investigation of teacher attitudes and beliefs in relation to their competencies, obstacles, and facilitators of VGs use for teaching. The findings of this research will assist in building a deep understanding of VG use in secondary classrooms assisting game developers, administrators, teachers, and policy makers in decisions relating to effective and meaningful video game use within education.

Limes (the Roman Frontier): Developing a Video Game for History Learning

The use of gaming technologies in education holds great promise to provide engaging learning experiences. Whereas video games have been successfully used to foster learning in several school subjects, the current understanding of the potential of video games for history learning is still limited. This paper details the development of Limes, a 2D top-down educational game created in Unity and rendered in pixel art. The game targets 5th/6th grade secondary school students and is set in the third century AD in southern Germany, a period characterized by political and social instabilities. Limes digs into the complex relations between the Roman Empire and the Alemanni tribe, one of the most powerful Germanic tribes of this period. The player can experience this pixelated world through the eyes of an Alemanni child, who forms a friendship with a Roman centurion. The unfolding narrative places the young protagonist in the precarious balance of peace and conflict, and the player needs to navigate the diplomatic tensions of the era. The gameplay consists of five levels, including primary missions and optional secondary missions which unlock special features (e.g., puzzles, quizzes). Limes incorporates a variety of game mechanics, ranging from running and interacting with characters to stealth missions, throwing rocks, and horse racing. These dynamics are integrated into the historical narrative of the game, enriching the player's experience. The game development process combined insights and methods from multiple disciplines, including game-based learning, educational, social, and cultural psychology, education sciences and pedagogy, and history education. Moreover, the game capitalizes on Unity’s wide array of development tools, which provide extensive customization possibilities, and employs pixel art, facilitating an engaging environment while maintaining a cost-conscious development process. Initial tests and expert feedback highlight the promise of Limes as a game that leverages historical accuracy and innovative educational tools to foster a deeper understanding of Roman history. Next steps include empirical studies with students to test the game's effectiveness (e.g., in improving interest in and knowledge of Roman history).

The implications of educational games on the development of children's intellectual abilities

Educational games have emerged as powerful tools in contemporary pedagogy, leveraging interactive and engaging platforms to enhance children's intellectual abilities. This research explores the multifaceted implications of educational games on cognitive development focusing on critical thinking, problem-solving skills and knowledge retention among children. This study used a mixed-data collection strategy. The goal of this research was to determine the impact of developed educational game technology on improving children's intellectual abilities. The study included 43 participants. According to the study, children have an average level of intellectual development. In this regard, training preschool-aged children required modifications to the content, procedural and personal aspects of learning for children using educational game technology. The study's findings revealed that incorporating educational game technological advances into the process of training children improved their cognitive abilities. Teachers can improve their teaching strategies using the useful tools and materials provided by the study's findings on the usage of educational games to support children' intellectual development. This research underscores the importance of integrating educational games into curricula to maximize their intellectual benefits and prepare children for future academic and life challenges.

Coupling CFD and VR for advanced firefighting training in a virtual ship engine room

Firefighting training using virtual reality (VR) technology has still not been used extensively in the maritime industry. One of the reasons lies in the inability of VR to accurately replicate the true dynamics of a fire. However, this shortfall can be effectively addressed by integrating computational fluid dynamics-based (CFD) models of fire spread into VR training simulations, thereby significantly enhancing the realism and educational value of these scenarios. In this study, a scenario of a fire spread inside the ship engine room has been developed. First, as a CFD analysis, whose results were then transferred to the VR environment. That approach has been tested with users who have noted that CFD-based fire gives a more realistic appearance than the generic modelled solely using the game engine.

Manufacturing floor mapping and presence tracking with a physics-based game engine

The manufacturing shop floor exists in a dynamic environment with constantly changing components regarding position and features. Presence tracking on the manufacturing shop floor is essential to enhance effective operations and safety. Internet of Things technology solutions have been developed to track and monitor machine and operators’ movements and materials on the shop floor to enhance machine availability and worker safety and improve overall operational effectiveness. However, for SMMs with limited financial resources and infrastructure, there is a need for a financially friendly approach to shop floor presence tracking and monitoring. This work presents the use of Internet-of-things and physics-based engines to develop a scalable and customizable solution to track presence on a manufacturing floor. The paper aims to improve and promote the adoption of I-4.0 technologies and digital manufacturing by SMMs with the development of an affordable, repeatable, customizable, open-source solution. The article describes a methodology for mapping, modeling, monitoring, and reporting presence on a manufacturing floor using physics-based engines. The methodology describes mapping the manufacturing floor into zones, the design of the IoT solution, selecting and placing sensors, and presenting the data using dashboards and physics-based engines. The paper investigates the methodology by implementing a case study on the Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems (ICAMS) manufacturing floor using the Unity3D game engine, open-source software, and off-the-shelf motion sensors.

Pembuatan Game 2D Melawan Virus Menggunakan Unity Engine

A game or game is something that can be played with certain rules so that there are winners and there are losers, usually in a context that is not serious with the purpose of refreshing. Various games include; action, action-adventure, simulation, construction, and management, role playing games (RPG), strategy, racing, sports, puzzles, and word games. To create a digital game, a game engine designed to develop video games on various platforms is required. The Unity Engine can be used to create 2D (two-dimensional) and 3D (three-dimensional) games and supports a wide range of cross-platform devices such as smartphones, PCs, PlayStation 5, and many other platforms. In this study, the researcher wants to implement the creation of a 2D game called LAVIR using the GDLC (Game Development Life Cycle) method. The creation of this game aims to reduce anxiety, fear and eliminate boredom.

EXPLORING TRENDS IN GAME-BASED PHYSICS EDUCATION: A BIBLIOMETRIC STUDY FROM 1973 TO 2023

Games are widely used to increase students' interest and participation in physics lessons. We need an in-depth analysis of the consistency of this study. This study aims to analyze research trends in the use of games in physics education using a bibliometric approach. Data were retrieved from the Scopus database using the keywords "play" and "physical education". Among the 125 articles obtained based on the search criteria, a trend analysis of the study was conducted using RStudio and VosViewer software. The analysis shows that publications on this topic have increased significantly since the early 2000s, from 1973 to 2023. Researchers from the USA and Europe dominated the publication. Nevertheless, the countries of Asia and Australia also started to contribute significantly. Intercontinental cooperation is important to provide a broader perspective. The main magazine that publishes articles on this topic is "Computer and Education". The most cited articles focus mainly on the effects of games on students' learning of physics. They identified five main keyword clusters that represent different ways of using games in physics education. Overall, this study provides an in-depth understanding of research trends and key findings related to the use of games in physics education. Further research is recommended on game design, technology integration, and implementation strategies to maximize the benefits of play to improve the quality of instruction and student physical education achievement.