Interactive Video Games Research Articles

Choose Wisely! Interactive Fiction Video Games in the English Classroom

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Emergent Narratives in Remote Learning Experiences for Project Based Education

The University of Naples Federico II (Italy) offers a nine-month formative training program aimed at software development for the Apple technology ecosystem to ~400 learners per year and utilises the Challenge Based Learning (CBL) methodology as a framework for learning. As a collaborative and self-guided, inquiry-based learning method, it focuses on learners’ intrinsic motivation while working on real world problems organised in projects (Challenges in CBL) with an experiential and progressive approach to apply acquired knowledge in real world scenarios, ideate solution concepts and build innovative digital products. To overcome limitations of spiral curriculum or elaboration theory, the authors applied narrative theory to design the program’s educational experience for the academic year 2019/2020 as a cohesive journey within a communal learning environment with a coherent and connected structure of narratively driven learning Challenges. The authors present concepts to develop their approach further towards an emergent narrative experience design system to manage the educational journey as it develops, rather than scripting it. This paper evolves the authors’ Narrative Experience Design Canvas to model educational experience design that encourages unscripted, emergent narratives for experiential education with the goal of fostering learners’ engagement, agency and creativity. Derived in part by models developed for digital interactive storytelling or educational video games, it categorises the components for designing an educational experience that allows the learning progression to be driven by learners as co-authors and describes mechanisms that allow unscripted narratives to emerge based on intrinsic motivation. Additionally, the authors present considerations for synchronous and asynchronous learning to evolve their framework for application in blended or remote learning scenarios. Drawing upon findings for remote learning and experiential e-learning - ee-learning - presented by scholars as well as implications identified during the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting switch to remote learning within the program at University of Naples Federico II in 2020, it is shown how combining narrative elements with experiential e-learning principles can result in increased engagement, motivation and sense of community in learners. Using the example of an individual learning unit - a Challenge - considerations from overall course design down to day-to-day learning activities within the course are presented. For the future, the authors indicate action points to develop this model into an Emergent Narrative System for designing narratively driven and experiential software development education programs and indicate areas of further research on learning activity design for blended or remote learning experiences.

A Novel Approach to Communicate with Video Game Character using Cascade Classifiers

Today, video games have a special place among entertainment. In this article, we have developed an interactive video game for mobile devices. In this game, the user can control the game’s character by his face and hand gestures. Cascading classifiers along with Haar-like features and local binary patterns are used for hand gesture recognition and face detection. The game’s character moves according to the current hand and face state received from the frontal camera. Various ideas are used to achieve the appropriate accuracy and speed. Unity 3D and OpenCV for Unity are employed to design and implement the video game. The programming language is C#. This game is written in C# and developed for both Windows and Android operating systems. Experiments show an accuracy of 86.4% in the detection of five gestures. It also has an acceptable frame rate and can run at 11 fps and 8 fps in Windows and Android respectively.

Effects of Interactive Videogames on Postural Control and Risk of Fall Outcomes in Frail and Pre-frail Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Interactive videogames (IVGs) have been used to reduce risk of falls in the older adult and improve postural control (PC) outcomes. Objective: To systematically review trials that examine whether IVGs training is effective in improving PC and managing falls in frail and pre-frail older adults. Data Sources: Four databases were searched, Scopus, Web of science, PubMed, and MEDLINE, from January 2007 to March 2019. Eligibility Criteria: Frail and pre-frail older adults aged 65+. Interventions were any Nintendo® Wii™ training. The outcome measures were PC and risk of falls as measured by any validated outcome measure. Studies Appraisal Method: The PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database) scale and Cochrane risk-of-bias tool were used by two independent authors. Results: Eleven papers were included, involving 388 participants, with a mean age of 79 ± 5.7 years. The mean duration of IVGs sessions was 8.8 ± 3.8 weeks, the mean total number of sessions was 20 ± 11.1 session, and the mean length of training was 44 ± 15.7 minutes. Meta-Analysis: IVGs achieved better results compared with traditional exercises and control on the Berg Balance Scale (mean difference [MD] 2.80; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21 to 4.39; P < 0.001; I2 = 16%), as well as in the short term on Timed Up and Go (MD -1.23; 95% CI -2.37 to -0.09; P = 0.03; I2 = 0%). Limitation: Definitive judgement could not be made due to the variability in training, training duration and outcomes measurement. Conclusion: IVGs is a promising modality that has a positive effect on PC but not on the outcome of falls, so it should be prescribed with caution among frail older adults. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019129611.

Effects of Virtual Reality and Task-Oriented Training on Hand Function and Activity Performance in Pediatric Hand Burns: A Randomized Controlled Trial

ObjectiveTo assess the efficacy of a motion-sensing, hands-free gaming device and task-oriented training (TOT) programs on improving hand function, activity performance, and satisfaction in pediatric hand burns. DesignA randomized controlled trial. SettingOutpatient rehabilitation center. ParticipantsFifty children with deep partial-thickness or full-thickness hand burns. (N=50; mean age, 10.70±1.64y; range, 7-14y) InterventionsChildren were randomized into 1 of the following 3 groups: the motion-sensing, hands-free gaming device group that used interactive video games plus traditional rehabilitation (TR); the TOT group that used real materials plus TR; and the control group that only received TR, all groups received the interventions 3 days per week for 8 weeks. Main Outcome MeasuresWe assessed the children at the baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention. The primary outcome measures were the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test, Duruoz Hand Index (DHI), and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). The secondary outcome measures were range of motion (ROM) of the digits, grip strength, and pinch strengths (tip, palmer, and lateral pinch). ResultsThere was a significant increase in all measurements of the motion-sensing, hands-free gaming device and TOT groups compared with that of the control group postintervention (P<.05). There was no significant change in Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test, COPM performance, ROM, grip strength, and tip and lateral pinch strengths between the motion-sensing, hands-free gaming device group and TOT group (P>.05), whereas there was a significant increase in DHI, COPM satisfaction, and palmer pinch strength (P<.05) in the motion-sensing, hands-free gaming device group compared with the TOT group postintervention. ConclusionsThe motion-sensing, hands-free gaming device and TOT programs resulted in significant improvement in hand function, activity performance and satisfaction, ROM of the digits, grip strength, and pinch strengths in pediatric hand burns compared with the traditional hand rehabilitation.

Fostering Innovation in Prevention and Treatment of Obesity in Youth: Digitally Mediated Physical Play as an Exemplar

Novel approaches to obesity prevention among youth are needed. Accordingly, the Office of Women's Health, Department of Health and Human Services, sponsored a challenge to create an interactive video game for obesity prevention. Our team took a theory-based, evidence-informed approach to increasing physical activity in girls. Our approach-digitally mediated physical play-allowed us to include computing-based strategies that promote activity without keeping players in front of a screen. Our prize-winning prototype app, Frolic, helps girls choose the perfect game to play in any context, engaging parents for support. The app is used to highlight some opportunities and challenges for interdisciplinary collaboration. However, much work remains to be done to deploy innovative digital obesity interventions and fully capture the contributions of these tools. In order to accelerate advances, funding is needed for projects that combine engineering design principles with traditional obesity research paradigms.

WITHDRAWN: Basic education for autistic children using interactive video games

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a range of conditions characterized by problems and challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, memory and nonverbal communication. The main aim of this paper is to educate children suffering from autism spectrum disorders effectively with the help of video games so that even with their conditions, they can learn to identify the alphabet and memorize it with ease. The game being developed uses a simple point and shoot functionality via ray casts. There is a score system that increments or decrements the score based on the object being hit. The player can move the main character using the WASD keys and aim using the mouse. To make the game child friendly, the inclusion of objects such as guns has been avoided to the most. There game’s screen displays the objective of each level so that player can easily identify which letter objects are supposed to be targeted. Using NavMeshAgents and NavMesh, the characters movements have been tracked and controlled. Concepts such as path finding and walkability tests have been included. Objects have been assigned health and scores using scripts. Based on the best of understanding, these concepts have been explained further in the paper.

Application of Interactive Video Games as Rehabilitation Tools to Improve Postural Control and Risk of Falls in Prefrail Older Adults.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether interactive video game (IVG) training is an effective way to improve postural control outcomes and decrease the risk of falls. A convenience sample of 12 prefrail older adults were recruited and divided into two groups: intervention group performed IVG training for 40 minutes, twice per week, for a total of 16 sessions. The control group received no intervention and continued their usual activity. Outcome measures were centre of pressure (COP), mean velocity, sway area, and sway path. Secondary outcomes were Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go (TUG), Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I), and Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC). Assessment was conducted with preintervention (week zero) and postintervention (week eight). The intervention group showed significant improvement in mean velocity, sway area, Berg Balance Scale, and TUG (p < 0.01) compared to the control group. However, no significant improvement was observed for sway path (p = 0.35), FES-I (p = 0.383), and ABC (p = 0.283). This study showed that IVG training led to significant improvements in postural control but not for risk of falls.

Exploring the Motivators and Barriers of Older Adults Participating in an Interactive Exergame Intervention

Cognitive and physical activity are important to maintaining daily functioning in older adults. While bidirectional associations between cognitive and physical activity magnify with increasing age, elucidating shared benefits has been difficult as few interventions explicitly train on cognition and mobility simultaneously. We conducted focus groups among 14 older adults residing in an independent-living center who participated in an interactive video game study called Bandit the Dolphin, where participants simultaneously incorporated cognitive exercise and physical activity while navigating within a complex spatial environment to help Bandit jump, eat fish, and stun sharks. Using ‘sneaky exercise’ tactics, participants utilized upper extremities in conjunction with slight lower extremity movement to move Bandit within a 3-D oceanic environment. We conducted 3 semi-structured focus groups and analyzed the data using the “Sort and Sift, Think and Shift” method to assess general likes and dislikes as well as the primary motivators, barriers, and reasons for remaining in the study. Participants enjoyed the immersive nature, challenge, and “fun factor” of the game. Primary motivators for joining were generativity/helping others, self-improvement, from peer referrals, and because the study looked interesting. Key barriers reported in the study were exhaustion from standing, learning how to play in 3-D space, and frustration from lack of level advancement. Reasons for retention were due to the game being fun, a sense of duty, and fulfilling commitments. This information will guide ongoing research efforts to design interactive video game interventions that are enjoyable for older adults and maintain high retention rates.

‘The Time Is out of Joint’: Interactivity and Player Agency in Videogame Adaptations of Hamlet

Although Shakespeare and his plays have been a frequent subject of videogame adaptations in the past, these have often been confined to either theatre-making games (which present the staging of Shakespeare plays using the mechanisms of strategy or simulation videogame genres) of education/trivia games that aim to familiarise players with Shakespeare’s texts. While references to Shakespeare abound in videogames, there have been relatively few attempts to directly adapt one of his plays into the form of an interactive videogame narrative, where the player controls one or more of the principal characters and can affect the outcome of the story. This paper will examine four videogame adaptations of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, whose differing approaches to player-agency and interactivity in relation to narrative of the classic play demonstrate the interactive potential of Shakespearean drama. While the player-driven overwriting or rewriting of the classic text may appear irreverent, it is, in each game, dependent on some conception the original play and the past tradition that it represents, which is translated into the contemporary medium of the videogame. This illustrates Jacques Derrida’s contention that the longevity and translatability of Shakespearean texts are due to their ‘spectral’ qualities, in that they allow the past to be re-examined through the lens of the present and vice versa.

On the use of AI for Generation of Functional Music to Improve Mental Health.

Increasingly music has been shown to have both physical and mental health benefits including improvements in cardiovascular health, a link to reduction of cases of dementia in elderly populations, and improvements in markers of general mental well-being such as stress reduction. Here, we describe short case studies addressing general mental well-being (anxiety, stress-reduction) through AI-driven music generation. Engaging in active listening and music-making activities (especially for at risk age groups) can be particularly beneficial, and the practice of music therapy has been shown to be helpful in a range of use cases across a wide age range. However, access to music-making can be prohibitive in terms of access to expertize, materials, and cost. Furthermore the use of existing music for functional outcomes (such as targeted improvement in physical and mental health markers suggested above) can be hindered by issues of repetition and subsequent over-familiarity with existing material. In this paper, we describe machine learning approaches which create functional music informed by biophysiological measurement across two case studies, with target emotional states at opposing ends of a Cartesian affective space (a dimensional emotion space with points ranging from descriptors from relaxation, to fear). Galvanic skin response is used as a marker of psychological arousal and as an estimate of emotional state to be used as a control signal in the training of the machine learning algorithm. This algorithm creates a non-linear time series of musical features for sound synthesis “on-the-fly”, using a perceptually informed musical feature similarity model. We find an interaction between familiarity and perceived emotional response. We also report on subsequent psychometric evaluation of the generated material, and consider how these - and similar techniques - might be useful for a range of functional music generation tasks, for example, in nonlinear sound-tracking such as that found in interactive media or video games.

Behavioral Cues of Humanness in Complex Environments: How People Engage With Human and Artificially Intelligent Agents in a Multiplayer Videogame.

The development of AI that can socially engage with humans is exciting to imagine, but such advanced algorithms might prove harmful if people are no longer able to detect when they are interacting with non-humans in online environments. Because we cannot fully predict how socially intelligent AI will be applied, it is important to conduct research into how sensitive humans are to behaviors of humans compared to those produced by AI. This paper presents results from a behavioral Turing Test, in which participants interacted with a human, or a simple or “social” AI within a complex videogame environment. Participants (66 total) played an open world, interactive videogame with one of these co-players and were instructed that they could interact non-verbally however they desired for 30 min, after which time they would indicate their beliefs about the agent, including three Likert measures of how much participants trusted and liked the co-player, the extent to which they perceived them as a “real person,” and an interview about the overall perception and what cues participants used to determine humanness. T-tests, Analysis of Variance and Tukey's HSD was used to analyze quantitative data, and Cohen's Kappa and χ2 was used to analyze interview data. Our results suggest that it was difficult for participants to distinguish between humans and the social AI on the basis of behavior. An analysis of in-game behaviors, survey data and qualitative responses suggest that participants associated engagement in social interactions with humanness within the game.

Computational imaging during video game playing shows dynamic synchronization of cortical and subcortical networks of emotions.

Emotions are multifaceted phenomena affecting mind, body, and behavior. Previous studies sought to link particular emotion categories (e.g., fear) or dimensions (e.g., valence) to specific brain substrates but generally found distributed and overlapping activation patterns across various emotions. In contrast, distributed patterns accord with multi-componential theories whereby emotions emerge from appraisal processes triggered by current events, combined with motivational, expressive, and physiological mechanisms orchestrating behavioral responses. According to this framework, components are recruited in parallel and dynamically synchronized during emotion episodes. Here, we use functional MRI (fMRI) to investigate brain-wide systems engaged by theoretically defined components and measure their synchronization during an interactive emotion-eliciting video game. We show that each emotion component recruits large-scale cortico-subcortical networks, and that moments of dynamic synchronization between components selectively engage basal ganglia, sensory-motor structures, and midline brain areas. These neural results support theoretical accounts grounding emotions onto embodied and action-oriented functions triggered by synchronized component processes.

‘MAPAGI’ video game upgraded breakfast attitude among urban elementary school children in West Jakarta, Indonesia

Introduction: Skipping breakfast may contribute to poor academic and nutritional status among school children. The current study aimed to determine the effect of the ‘MAPAGI’ (Makan Pagi Bergizi) interactive video game on elementary student’s breakfast knowledge and attitude. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental equivalent group study with a pre-post test control group design. In total, 228 students aged 9-11 years were drawn by proportional stratified random sampling from two urban schools and were distributed equally into intervention (IG) and control groups (CG). Both groups were administered with similar printed media for 10-15 minutes. Video game was delivered only to IG for two consecutive days, 30 minutes each day. Pre-test (PT0) was performed a day before leaflet administration, while post-test was performed twice – after leaflet administration (post-test 1/ PT1) and a week after the last video game (post-test 2/PT2). Paired, independent t-test and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were employed to answer the research questions. Results: The mean changes (PT1-PT0 and PT2-PT0) in knowledge score for IG (4.82±2.53 and 3.25±2.47) significantly differed compared to CG (1.75±2.66 and 1.25±2.69). The mean changes in attitude score for IG (7.16±7.17 and 7.34±7.11) also significantly differed compared to CG (2.83±6.58 and 2.64±6.90). After adjustment for potential confounding factors, there was still a significantly greater score in children’s knowledge and attitude after a week’s administration of MAPAGI video game in IG. Conclusion: ‘MAPAGI’ improved school children’s knowledge and attitude, which may lead to the good behaviour of having breakfast.

Realistic Lighting for Interactive Applications Using Semi-Dynamic Light Maps

Light mapping is a technique that works by precomputing the lighting of a scene to speed up expensive lighting calculations at run-time. It is a commonly employed technique for computer games, in particular mobile games, due to the difficulty of creating realistic lighting effects on low power devices. The primary drawback of this technique is that the scene state that is dependent on the precomputed data cannot be changed at run-time. This limitation of light mapping significantly decreases the interactability of applications that use light maps. In this paper, we present a method to remove some of these restrictions at the cost of additional texture memory and small CPU/GPU workload. This allows changing the color and intensity properties of selected light sources at run-time, while keeping the benefits of the light mapping technique. It also makes it possible to show or hide the selected objects without giving rise to shadow artifacts and illumination inconsistencies. Our algorithm computes the light maps separately for each light source. Regions shadowed by each semi-dynamic object are also captured and stored. These maps are later combined at run-time to correctly illuminate the scene. Despite the increase in the generation time of the precomputed data, the overhead of the method is low enough to make it useful in many real-time applications. This makes our method especially suitable for interactive computer games designed to run on mobile and low-end graphics processors.

The interplay of individual differences, norms, and group identification in predicting prejudiced behavior in online video game interactions

AbstractDespite the increasing popularity of video games and the diversity of people who play, prejudice remains common in online gaming. In the current study, we use structural equation modeling to test the role of social norms, individual differences, and gamer identification as predictors of how likely someone is to report engaging in prejudiced behavior while playing online video games. We also test the relative importance of these predictors to assess how likely people are to confront prejudice when it occurs in online video games. Participants (N = 384) completed a series of questionnaires to assess their attitudes and perceptions of online gaming norms, as well as to report their own prejudiced and confrontation behavior in video games. We found that both social norms and individual differences are significant predictors of behavior in online gaming. The more normative people report prejudice to be, the more they report making prejudiced comments. Similarly, the more normative confrontation of prejudice is reported to be, the more likely people are to report confronting prejudice. The more people endorsed generally prejudiced attitudes, the more likely they were to report making prejudiced remakes in online gaming and the less likely they were to report confronting prejudiced remarks. These results provide a foundation to inform interventions to reduce prejudice in gaming and indicate that both individual differences and norms are important to consider when designing interventions.

The Effect of Music Intervention on Attention in Children: Experimental Evidence.

Although music has been utilized as a therapeutic tool for children with cognitive impairments, how it improves children’s cognitive function remains poorly understood. As a first step toward understanding music’s effectiveness and as a means of assessing cognitive function improvement, we focused on attention, which plays an important role in cognitive development, and examined the effect of a music intervention on children’s attention. Thirty-five children, aged 6 to 9 years, participated in this study, with data from 29 of the children being included in the analysis. A single 30-minute interactive music intervention was compared with a single 30-minute interactive video game intervention accompanied by computer-generated background music using a within-subjects repeated-measures design. Each intervention was implemented individually. Participants completed a standardized attention assessment, the Test of Everyday Attention for Children, before and after both interventions to assess changes in their attentional skills. The results indicated significant improvement in attention control/switching following the music intervention after controlling for the children’s intellectual abilities, while no such changes were observed following the video game intervention. This study provides the first evidence that music interventions may be more effective than video game interventions to improve attention control in children, and furthers our understanding of the importance of music interventions for children with attention control problems.

Todos estamos juntos en esto. Explorando el uso de la segunda persona en los informativos de televisión

La literatura existente sobre el uso de la segunda persona gira en torno a la relación del público con el texto. Los investigadores de la comunicación interpersonal y los expertos en narración y retórica sostienen que el uso de la segunda persona puede alterar los límites entre el autor, el texto y la audiencia en la interacción social, la ficción narrativa y la ficción interactiva. La literatura sugiere que este uso de la segunda persona puede cambiar la forma en que se conecta con el público, pero también crear un sentido de autoridad y aumentar la credibilidad de la narrativa. En este texto, recojo estas ideas y analizo cómo el uso de la segunda persona en el texto de los informativos de televisión puede también alterar la percepción de la audiencia sobre los acontecimientos narrados y su involucración en ellos. Tras una revisión de la literatura existente sobre la perspectiva en segunda persona en los contextos de la interacción interpersonal, la ficción narrativa y los videojuegos interactivos, analizo la forma en que esas percepciones pueden utilizarse para comprender mejor el efecto que generan las noticias en televisión, adaptando un método y aplicándolo cualitativamente al texto de las noticias, y ubicando las conclusiones en la trayectoria conceptual de Michele Foucault y Edward Said.

Effects of the Interactive Videogame Nintendo Wii Sports on Upper Limb Motor Function of Individuals with Post-Polio Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objective: To compare the effects of an upper limb videogame-based training with a training based on similar motor demands on upper limb function, dexterity, functionality, balance, fatigue, and pain in post-polio syndrome (PPS) and to assess the acceptability, feasibility, and safety of the intervention. Materials and Methods: This is a randomized, parallel, single-blind clinical trial. Thirty-nine individuals were randomized into Interactive Videogames Group (IVG, n = 19) and Active Exercises Group (AEG, n = 20). Participants performed two weekly sessions (50 minutes each), totaling 14 sessions with the aim of providing mild to moderate intensity. IVG practiced four Nintendo Wii Sport games (tennis, golf, boxing, and bowling). The AEG performed similar movements required for IVG. Primary outcome: upper limb motor function-Motor Function Measure-32. Secondary outcomes: dexterity-Box and Block test; functionality-Functional Independence Measure; balance-Functional Reach Test, muscle fatigue-Fatigue Severity Scale, upper limb pain-Visual Analogue Scale for pain, acceptability, applicability, and safety. Analysis of group, time, interaction between groups, and time effects was performed through repeated-measures analysis of variance (2 × 3) and Bonferroni post hoc test with alpha of 0.05. Results: Interactive videogames were safe, feasible, and acceptable. Both groups showed similar postintervention improvement on motor function, functionality, balance, pain, and fatigue, with maintenance over the follow-up period. There was an interaction effect between the groups on dexterity and the IVG demonstrated better performance compared with the AEG. Final Considerations: The similar positive clinical effects of the interactive video games on PPS upper limb function and its superior effects on dexterity support its use as a safe and feasible intervention. Particularly when it comes to chronic patients, who require long-term physical therapy, new and stimulating interventions may contribute to the rehabilitation process and improve their engagement in the treatment. Registered on the Brazilian Clinical Trials platform under number RBR-8S2NBF.

Contribution of Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Worlds towards development of Super Intelligent AI Agents

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has always been a goal as well as a challenge in the scientific field with a whole new world being accessible to people by accomplishing various achievements in the past decades. However, in the last many years, tremendous popularity has been received by the interactive computer games involving multi-user virtual environment which has been the prime attraction for millions of users around the world. This paper focuses on AI agents along with exploring the progress towards super intelligent AI and the roles played by artificial intelligence and virtual worlds in its development. It follows a unique approach to give an unbiased view on the various problems and the relation between them. There are namely two benefits from this research: firstly, evolution in science and technology requires a profound understanding on the advanced AI agents in the virtual worlds, and secondly, the virtual worlds have always been a magnificent platform for research on the challenging problems faced in the domain of Artificial Intelligence.