Game Development Research Articles

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The field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has gained increased attention since the release of ChatGPT in late 2022. Following the popularity and wide application, several generative AI (GAI or GenAI) tools have been released, with capabilities of generating novel content such as text, images, audio, and video. Previous research has noted both opportunities and limitations with GAI for various fields. One field with high potential impact is the game industry and the subfield of serious games, where the purpose of the game extends that of pure entertainment. GAI could play an important role for design and development of serious games, where design teams are typically smaller (compared with big commercial games), and competences in game mechanics, graphics and other game resources can be limited. This paper explores the opportunities and limitations of GAI tools to support development of serious games. This is done through the development of a serious game, based on the author’s PhD thesis, where various GAI tools are used to generate game content such as in-game dialogue, graphics, and audio. Development of the game artefact, which is named ‘Computer Programming in Schools’, follows the process of a design science research (DSR) project where emphasis is placed on the design in one iteration of development. The author’s experiences of utilizing GAI tools during the development of the game were recorded in a researcher diary, together with screenshots and images from the game. In this paper, these experiences are discussed and compared to related research in order to seek the most salient opportunities and limitations for GAI to support design and development of serious games. The paper provides several hands-on examples of design and development of a serious game with GAI tools and concludes with a set of recommendations for the future use of GAI in game development.

Exploring the Impact of an IoT-based Game on the Experience of Visitors at a Natural Science Museum

The use of Internet of Things (IoT) technology to improve access to cultural heritage sites and enhance visitor engagement has become increasingly popular. Nevertheless, there is a lack of studies evaluating the actual benefits of such technology on visitors’ experiences, which is crucial to improve the IoT adoption in this field. To address this issue, we present an exploratory study we performed to understand whether and how an IoT-based game affects the experience of museum visitors. The game is played after a traditional guided tour; it was created following a meta-design approach to enable domain experts, such as museum professional guides, to adapt the game to specific visitors and/or situations. The study involved a total of 18 participants who took a guided tour of the Museum of Natural Sciences of the University of Bari and played the game afterward. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. The study results show that playing the IoT-based game positively affects the experience of visitors and, in particular, their emotions. Visitor workload was also found to be greater than that of a guided tour, but this had no negative impact on visitor experience. The study findings have implications for the design and development of future IoT games to enhance engagement and to improve the experience of visitors at cultural heritage sites.

An Imagological Analysis of the Video Game Black Myth: WuKong

Abstract In this paper, an analytical approach is applied to the globally acclaimed game, Black Myth: Wukong, inspired by the classic novel Journey to the West, which stands out in the transmission of Chinese culture. A model is proposed, taking into account four basic concepts: proto-image, image ontology, image realization, and image reception, tracing the literary sources manifested in the game. The exploration covers how narrative structures, multimodal systems, and gameplay change during the transition from text to game. Finally, the reception and evaluation of these changes are examined, illustrating the interactive process between game developers as image creators and players as image receivers. The formation of images in the digital era is viewed as distinct from traditional media and urgently needs attention.

Pengembangan dan Implementasi Permainan Edukatif untuk Meningkatkan Kognitif, Sosial, dan Emosional Anak-Anak di Panti Asuhan Muhabbatul Haq

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a community service program through the development and implementation of educational games at Muhabbatul Haq Orphanage. The method used in this program involves three main stages: preparation and needs identification, educational game development, and game implementation. In the first stage, the team conducted initial observations and interviews with caregivers and children to identify their educational needs. The second stage involved the development and design of games that covered cognitive, social and emotional aspects. The third stage was the implementation of the games at the orphanage with regular game sessions. The results of the program showed significant improvements in the children's creativity and basic knowledge, as well as the strengthening of their social and emotional skills. The children were able to display creativity in the guessing game and answered questions well in the quiz, showing solid understanding. The program not only provides short-term benefits of improved knowledge and skills, but also long-term contributions to community development. In conclusion, educational games are proven to be effective in supporting children's development, building good character, and creating a fun learning environment.

Development of an Educational Game for Food Capture Based on Augmented Reality Using Face Mesh Detection and Computer Vision

This study aims to propose an educational game for newborns around 4 months old who do not yet know how to distinguish objects that should not be put in their mouths. This seems very normal when it occurs during this stage of life, but it should be encouraged with educational tools — because eating objects that are not food can cause choking or suffocation. AR technology provides an interactive and engaging learning environment by overlaying digital information on the physical environment. The game also uses Computer Vision technology such as Face Detection and Recognition to control user interaction based on body movements. By combining computer vision, the game provides a new and dynamic way to increase user engagement, introducing new opportunities for the development of interactive educational games for young children

Speech-Controlled Robot Enabling Cognitive Training and Stimulation in Dementia Prevention for Severely Disabled People

Abstract The current German medical S3-guideline on dementia recommends the use of cognitive training and stimulation, e.g. through shared games, for mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia. The use of cobots, which allow direct human-robot collaboration, enables people with paralyzed upper limbs to actively participate in social activities. This research presents a novel approach through the development of a voice-controlled board game specifically tailored to the inclusion needs of people with severe disabilities. The human voice commands recorded via USB microphones are digitally filtered. Speech recognition of the control commands is performed using a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) based on the VGG- 16 architecture. The robot´s activity is controlled utilizing the ROS 2 robot operating system. A portable table-based complete system with a 3D-printed Tic-Tac-Toe playing field and robot assistant for severely disabled paralyzed people has been developed. The robot control system employs a pick-and-place mechanism, seamlessly integrating with speech recognition to enhance gameplay interaction. The CNN model achieves an impressive accuracy rate of 97%, ensuring reliable speech recognition performance throughout gameplay. The targeted integration of robotic technologies and artificial intelligence opens new avenues in the prevention of mental illness, care support and inclusion of older and disabled people.

Development and evaluation of the active learning game "Who Am I?-Cellular Signal Transduction Edition": the positive impact on undergraduate education.

The teaching of physiology plays a crucial role in the education of health care professionals. However, traditional approaches to physiology classes in undergraduate health courses in Brazil often result in passive student participation. Research has shown that active methodologies are more effective in the learning process. In this study, we introduce the game "Who Am I?-Cellular Signal Transduction Edition" as an educational tool. This game follows a popular format with well-known rules and aims to enhance understanding of basic concepts related to hormones, cell signaling, and the functioning of the endocrine system. Our findings demonstrate that the game improves student knowledge and fosters enthusiasm and active engagement among participants. Additionally, student feedback has indicated a high level of appreciation for the game. By incorporating active learning strategies and a gamified approach, "Who Am I?-Cellular Signal Transduction Edition" provides a practical and enjoyable way of teaching physiology. This innovative educational tool has the potential to revolutionize physiology instruction. Demonstrating significant improvement in students' understanding, the game underscores its efficacy in enhancing knowledge acquisition and comprehension of cellular signaling and endocrine physiology topics.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We developed "Who Am I?-Cellular Signal Transduction Edition" to assist students in comprehending concepts of cellular signal transduction. This simple and cost-effective tool is perfect for educational settings with limited resources, and it encourages active learning for both small and large groups. Pre- and posttests have shown that it effectively enhances knowledge of hormonal actions and cellular signaling. Positive feedback from students emphasizes its value in reinforcing understanding and improving classroom engagement, making it a promising educational tool.

Sufferer Odysseus in Video Games of the 21st century

In recent decades, the active development of the video game market, as well as the rapid growth in the number of game content consumers, have caused an urgent need for scientifi c research of these products. In foreign game studies, there are two approaches: narratology and ludology. The narratological approach, which is based on the analysis of the plot of the game scenario, has a long history and is closer to the humanities, while ludology includes the digital aspects of video games. Based on the fi rst approach, which allows us to consider in detail various aspects of the psycho-emotional impact on the educational level of the game user, we can offer some recommendations for video content creators, as well as for the bodies that control the creation of such products. The article analyzes three computer games that have the name Odysseus in their titles and that use episodes and details from Homer’s heroic epic The Odyssey in their plots: the 2000 Odyssey quest from the French company Cryo Interactive (The Odyssey: The Search for Ulysses), the 2011 game by the Russian company Nevosoft Odysseus. The Long Way Home, and the adventure action game with numerous quests from Ubisoft Assassin’s Creed, which released the fi rst part of the game Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey in 2018. Using comparative methods, the narratives of the listed games are compared with the narrative in the original version f Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, and elements of the Gothic tradition and associated popular culture in the gameplay scenario are noted. As a result of the study, it became obvious that the postmodernist general cultural context of modern civilization and game designers, who turned to ancient archetypal models for advertising purposes, chose the most destructive, barbaric type of using ancient names and narratives. In classical plots, there are no moral guidelines left, laid down there by classical authors. An important issue, which the conducted analysis leads to, is the problem of responsibility of video game developers for the educational, upbringing and informational content of the content they offer.

Politics in Video Games: A Socio-Cognitive Analysis of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Battlefield 3

Abstract This study explores the portrayal of political ideologies in popular video games, which are Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Battlefield 3. As games often contain real-world references, meanings, and themes, they have the potential to convey ideological and political messages to players and shape their perspectives on political issues. Using a qualitative research methodology, the study examines the language, with visual and auditory elements, present in the cutscenes and during the gameplay of these games. The analysis employs van Dijk’s socio-cognitive approach (2000, 2006) to decipher the games’ embedded ideological messages. The findings indicate that game developers perpetuate the hegemonic ideology of US military power. The developers also portray Arabs as the main source of terrorism and reinforce negative stereotypes of Iran and Russia.

Digital Educational Games (GICAME): The Need and Urgency of STEAM-Based Literacy Learning

In the digital age, literacy has become a crucial skill that must be taught to elementary school students. It is essential to equip students with strong reading and writing abilities by integrating technological advancements, such as game-based learning media. This study aims to analyze the need and urgency of developing STEAM-based digital educational games for literacy instruction. A mixed-methods approach (both qualitative and quantitative) was employed, with 100 fifth-grade students and 25 teachers from SDN Pakel Sub-district as research participants. Data were collected through four techniques: questionnaires, interviews, observations, and literature reviews. Descriptive statistics were applied to analyze quantitative data, while triangulation was used for qualitative data. The findings reveal a significant need and urgency to develop STEAM-based digital educational games, as they enhance the literacy learning process by making it more interactive. This approach can accelerate the mastery of reading and writing skills, preparing students to face the challenges of the digital era. The study concludes that the development of STEAM-based digital educational games offers an innovative approach to improving literacy instruction and can serve as a foundation for future research in this area.

Development and Application of Geography Board Games as Education Tools

Development and Application of Geography Board Games as Education Tools

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.

Sustainability in IT education: A game-based approach

Information Technology (IT) has a critical role in supporting sustainable development. However, there are also various ways in which IT contributes negatively to it. Despite the ever-growing need for IT professionals qualified to take on these challenges, education in sustainability and IT has so far been lacking. IT students need an understanding of the far-reaching implications of IT, and to acknowledge their responsibility for the systems they create, to actively contribute to positive change. To address this need, our research explores how collaborative games can be utilized as a tool to develop IT students’ knowledge and perception of sustainability and its connection with IT. Previous research has found the use of games to teach sustainability promising, and in this paper, we present SustainIT, a 3D collaborative game for IT students. In SustainIT, the players communicate across the past and future to make more sustainable decisions for an IT company. The learning goals of the game are to promote systems thinking, an understanding of the connection between sustainability and IT, and to challenge existing perceptions. Focus has been put on finding effective game elements to promote learning and engagement to support these learning outcomes. In the paper we present the design and the evaluation of the game. The final prototype was evaluated by an expert in sustainability in IT education, and a group of students within the target group. The overall evaluation was positive, with the game being evaluated as relevant and interesting. However, the evaluation also pointed out some challenges with the integration of background information about sustainability into the game. Our findings can inform the development of games aimed at cultivating the understanding of the impacts of IT on sustainability.

Integrating 2D and 3D in Game Development: Design and Technology Collaboration

With the ongoing progress in game development technology, the combination of 2D and 3D techniques has become an emerging and exciting trend. In this context, game design must not only focus on visual effects but also enhance the overall gaming experience. This paper examines how 2D and 3D technologies are used together in game design and how this mix helps improve visuals and gaming experiences. Through case studies, the paper discusses the benefits and challenges of 2.5D technology and the technical difficulties that come with using 2D and 3D technologies on different platforms. The research shows that 2.5D technology solves the problem of needing more space and depth in 2D by adding 3D elements to 2D images. This gives game developers more freedom in their designs and helps them be more creative. The paper provides strategies and tips for game developers to apply these technologies, allowing them to compete better in the fast-growing global game market.

A Study on Targeted Advertising Strategies for Virtual Goods on Social Media: Exploring Ways to Increase Consumers' Willingness to Purchase in Games

Social media platforms have become key channels for promoting game products and selling virtual goods, but how to develop effective advertising strategies, achieve precise targeting, and enhance users' purchase intent in the face of massive information and fierce market competition is a problem faced by both game developers and social media platforms. This study explores the advertising marketing strategies for game products' virtual goods on social media platforms, particularly by comparing the effects of official and unofficial promotional videos and constructing user profiles for precise targeting. It provides practical guidance and theoretical support for optimizing advertising effects for game developers and social media platforms. This study employs a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods, by capturing comment data from new game promotion on Bilibili for word frequency analysis and sentiment analysis to reveal the differences in user feedback between official and unofficial videos. Additionally, a questionnaire survey was designed and distributed to collect users' opinions on different types of promotional videos, further verifying the existence of user preferences, and statistical software such as SPSS was used for data analysis. The study found that official videos often receive more negative feedback from users, while unofficial videos are more likely to receive positive discussion from users; users have a higher willingness to watch official collaborative blogger promotional videos but have a lower willingness to watch official videos; official videos have a greater negative impact on users' consumption intent, while unofficial videos are more likely to have a positive impact.

Development of RelaxQuest: A Serious EEG-Controlled Game Designed to Promote Relaxation and Self-Regulation with a Potential Focus on ADHD Intervention

This article presents the development of a serious game designed to help individuals improve their ability to relax and self-regulate, with a particular focus on children. Additionally, the game has the potential to become an effective tool for intervention in individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) due to its integration of critical elements for measuring attention levels. These include omission errors, commission errors, response times, standard deviations of response times, and other relevant variables. The game allows control through electroencephalographic (EEG) signals, using alpha wave modulation and blinking as interaction methods. The amplification of alpha wave amplitude is associated with states of relaxation and mental tranquility, indicating that their modulation could potentially mitigate anxiety and enhance emotional self-regulation. The game’s primary objective is to encourage participants to attain relaxing mental states by overcoming challenges as they progress. In order to achieve this, the game’s development necessitated a comprehensive understanding of EEG signal processing, a crucial aspect meticulously explored in this article. In addition, this paper presents the results of alpha wave and flicker detection, along with a performance analysis that demonstrates satisfactory results. Subsequently, the game was assessed with children to evaluate its effectiveness, facilitating a comprehensive analysis of various performance parameters. The findings indicate that the game facilitates the gradual improvement of participants’ skills with each iteration, notably enhancing their capacity to achieve a state of relaxation.

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.

Lesson Study - The Game: designing a game-based professional development opportunity for teachers and teacher candidates

PurposeThis design paper reports on the development of a board game for teachers’ initial introduction to lesson study (LS). Empirical studies suggest that teachers need to have a good understanding of the goals and steps of LS in order to see their participation in LS as worthwhile. This board game is designed to provide an interactive, motivating and informative introduction to LS.Design/methodology/approachFollowing iterative design steps to develop a game prototype, groups of teachers (N = 57) and teacher candidates (N = 49) played the game and completed surveys about their satisfaction with the game as well as the quality and the transferability of the game. The data were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods. To address feedback from participants, two experts in game-based learning and LS, respectively, were asked to review the game and provide additional feedback.FindingsThe vast majority of participants rated the game as an appealing format for professional development (PD) and indicated a high level of motivation to participate in LS and collaborate with colleagues after playing the game. The findings highlight that game-based learning opportunities can provide engaging and informative formats for PD, particularly to facilitate collaboration.Originality/valueTo our knowledge, this is one of the first efforts to design and evaluate a game-based introduction to LS and one of the few studies to discuss educational games specifically designed to enhance teachers’ professional knowledge and collaboration.

Application and Problems of AI in Game Development

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) in game development has significantly transformed the dynamics, interactivity, and personalized experiences of games. This paper explores the key applications of AI in game development, including procedural content generation (PCG), non-player character (NPC) behavior and control, as well as automated game testing and quality assurance. PCG enhances replayability and user engagement by automatically generating game content, such as levels and maps, through algorithms. AI-driven NPC behavior makes game characters more adaptive, intelligent, and lifelike, thereby enhancing player immersion. Automated testing utilizes machine learning algorithms to improve testing efficiency and game quality. Despite the numerous advantages that AI brings, there are also challenges related to ethics, technology, creativity, and economics. This paper discusses the potential benefits and challenges of AI in game development and emphasizes the importance of responsible and sustainable application of AI technologies.

The Application of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing the Sense of Reality in Games

With the rapid development in the field of computer science, game development has emerged as one of its significant branches. Artificial Intelligence (AI), as an emerging discipline, has become increasingly integrated with the field of game development, offering new possibilities for enhancing the sense of realism and player experience in games. This paper delves into the application of AI in enhancing the sense of reality in games. Firstly, the paper analyzes the importance of the sense of reality in games and explores how AI can enhance the player's immersive experience by simulating game character behaviors. Secondly, the paper discusses the application of AI in game physics and environmental simulation. Next, the paper explores the application of AI in enhancing game audio and visual effects. Additionally, AI's application in image generation and enhancement technologies has raised the quality of game graphics to new heights. Lastly, the paper discusses the application of AI in the field of VR and AR, and how it can enhance user perception by optimizing hardware performance and providing more realistic physical experiences. The paper examines the potential of AI in improving the emotional experience of users and provides an outlook on future trends in game development.