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Key research themes
1. How can game development tools and AI assistants streamline the game creation process for developers?
This theme investigates the integration of AI and mixed-initiative authoring tools within game development environments to reduce costs and complexity, particularly for level design and narrative elements. It addresses industry-academic gaps by providing modular, extensible tools that empower both novice and experienced developers to produce polished content more efficiently.
Key finding: The paper presents 'Level Building Sidekick' (LBS), an AI-assisted modular tool integrated into the Unity engine designed to facilitate game map building, NPC/item placement, and quest creation. Usability testing revealed... Read more
Key finding: uAdventure is introduced as a serious game authoring tool specializing in narrative point-and-click adventure games, implemented over Unity for ease of use by non-programmers. Formative evaluations with users of varying... Read more
2. What design methodologies and interdisciplinary collaborations improve serious and educational game development?
This theme explores frameworks, models, and multidisciplinary approaches connecting game design expertise with learning sciences to effectively create serious and educational games. It highlights challenges in aligning entertainment-focused game mechanics with pedagogical goals, emphasizing shared vocabularies, iterative workflows, and educator involvement for successful learning outcomes.
Key finding: Offers a systematic review of 13 serious game design (SGD) models and identifies five principal challenges including bridging the gap between game design and learning design. The study demonstrates that SGD models vary in... Read more
Key finding: Presents a ten-year qualitative study of game developers emphasizing the social, collaborative, and opportunistic nature of game creation. It critiques the ontological narrowness of existing game studies and reveals how game... Read more
Key finding: Analyzes the multidisciplinary landscape of game research, advocating for deeper integration of general design research theories with game studies. It identifies existing fragmentation and epistemic friction between... Read more
3. How do game-based learning and educational games impact skill development and cultural engagement across diverse demographics?
This theme examines empirical studies on digital educational games used to foster STEM learning, design thinking, cultural preservation, and soft skills. It emphasizes pedagogical strategies, learner engagement, and the role of culturally relevant content in motivating and improving educational outcomes among students including Indigenous groups and future software engineers.
Key finding: This study finds that playing the game simulation 'Game Dev Tycoon' supports the development of various professional soft competencies essential for engineer-programmers, including teamwork, communication, decision-making,... Read more
Key finding: Reports on an educational intervention where Indigenous Australian students engaged in video game creation using Indigenous knowledge as thematic content. Initial findings indicate enhanced acquisition of design thinking... Read more
Key finding: The paper describes the development of a mobile 3D role-playing game aimed at preserving the intangible cultural heritage of Southern Thai Manora dance. Through accurate digital representation of costumes, dance postures, and... Read more
Key finding: This meta-analysis of 136 effect sizes from 86 studies reveals a medium to large positive effect of digital game-based STEM learning over traditional approaches. Furthermore, adding specific game-design elements yields small... Read more
Key finding: This study developed an action-style educational game 'Code Adventure' to teach JAVA programming to undergraduates, incorporating elements like challenges, narratives, and rewards to maintain engagement. Results show improved... Read more