Athanasios Tsokaktsidis (2523256) Serious Gaming
Abstract
Serious games are designed to solve real life problems through the use of games. They have been penetrated in peoples every day life. They use methods -game mechanics- in order to attract users. The use of a game engines in necessary for the development of a game in a variety of platforms. Serious games examples and descriptions. And finally the social impact of serious games in peoples life. This essay is about the design of a serious game. The attributes of game mechanics are analyzed. There is a framework about the criteria used for the comparison of game engines. The key element of each engine is examined by the framework (Table 1). Subsequently, reference is made to actual serious games.
Serious Gaming
According to a popular definition, Serious Games are “games that do not have entertainment, enjoyment or fun as their primary purpose”. Serious games are designed to solve real life problems through the use of games. Although serious games can be entertaining, the main objective of a serious game is, yet not limited to teach, train, investigate or advertise. These interactive products are currently been used by industries such as defense, education, scientific exploration, health, medicine, news, city planning, engineering, emergency management, business and politics, but not in elite sports. Typically, video game genres are categorized by game play, where serious games are not a game genre but a category of games with a different purpose (SG. Senevirathne, 2011).
Game Mechanics
Game Mechanics are methods invoked by agents, designed for interaction with game state. They are also constructs of rules and feedback loops which are intended to produce enjoyable gameplay. They are the building blocks that can be applied and combined to gamify any non-game context (E.Adams, 2012). Each Game Mechanic is categorized into 3 Attributes:
i. Game Mechanics Type (Progression, Feedback and Behavioral). ii. Boosts (Benefits (Engagement, Loyalty, Time Spent, Influence, Fun, Seo: Search Engine Optimization, UCG: User Generated Content and Virality). iii. Personality Types (Explorers, Achievers, Socializers and killers).
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Game Engines
Each computer, video game or interactive application with synchronous graphics has a game engine. The game engine is the central software component, providing the underlying technologies. The engine greatly simplifies the task of games development, and often allows the game to be used on different platforms, e.g. different game consoles and PC operating systems. The main function of a game engine is the rendering engine for 2D or 3D graphics. Game engine includes a scene graph and a physics engine which allows collision detection, audio, scripting scenes, animation of scenes, a level of incorporated artificialInternational intelligence Journal of Interactive (AI) Worlds and 8 scope for networki ng (S. Freitas, 2006).
Some Keyaccessibility elements (support that could for non-standard help in order instructorsto select oftena Game play Engine a role in according virtual to Framework,interfaces provided and devices; by as Petridiswell as support are for visual andlearning functional experiences, fidelity, and similarly consistency, socio- standardised interfaces (e.g. WASD) and cultural elements can be key motivators as support multiuserfor other support, tools beneficial and technical since in theelements mentioned (P.Petridis, above. 2012) . All these elements are presentedabsence in the of following sophisticated table: AI, human
Table 1: Framework for Comparing Engines in SG
Audiovisual Fidelity Rendering Animation Sound Functional Fidelity Scripting Supported AI Techniques Physics Composability Import/ Export Content Developer Toolkits Accessibility Learning Curve Documentation and Support Licensing Cost Networking Client Server/ Peer–to- peer Heterogeneity Multiplatform Support
Current Game Engines Compared Using the engines over others is to meet several Framework identified criteria including: wide usage of Table 1: Framework for Comparing Enginesengine, in Serious availability, Games modularity(P.Petridis, 2012) and At the current time, the researchers have innovative features. identified over 100 games engines available on the market (WikiPedia 2010). It was The first game engine under comparative decided to compare a subset of this number analysis here is the CryENGINE 3. The engine Accordingwith to the Wikipedia framework in orderthere to are gain over some 100 gamesis available engine for the in PC, the PS3 market. and Xbox360. The various game engines,baseline data are for CryENGINE3 validating the model. writte The n in C/C++CryENGINE and 3 available supports development for the Windows, in rationale for the selection of these games Microsoft Direct X 9,10 and 11. PS3 and Xbox360. Another engine is Valve’s Source Engine, it is written in C++ for platforms like Windows, Mac, Xbox360, PS3 and Linux (server only). Unreal Engine 3, written in C/C++, and the platforms are supported in are Windows, Xbox360 and PS3. Finally Unity is written in C#, JavaScript and the supported platforms are Windows, Mac, Nintendo Wii, IOS, Browser-based, Google Android (P.Petridis, 2012). Engines previously referred will be compared between them according to the key elements of the framework in Table 1, in the following tables.
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Table 3: Functional Fidelity
CryEngine Source Unre Unity al Scripting Script Yes Yes Yes Yes
Object Model Yes No No No
InternationalSupported JournalAI ofCollision Interactive Detection Worlds 12Yes Yes Yes Yes Techniques Athanasios Tsokaktsidis (2523256) Path Finding Yes No Yes Yes Serious Gaming Table 2: Audiovisual Fidelity Decision Making Yes No Yes Yes
CryEngine Source Engine Unreal Unity Basic, Multi- Basic, Multi- Basic,Physics Multi - BasicBasic, Physics Yes Yes Yes Yes texturing, Bump texturing, Bump texturing, Bump Bumpmapping, mapping mapping mapping, Procedural
g Texturin Procedural rigid body Yes Yes Yes Yes Per-vertex, Per- Per-vertex, Per- Per-vertex, Per- Per-vertex, Per pixel, pixel, pixel, Gloss/ Pixel Lightmapping, Lightmapping, Specular Mapping vehicle dynamics Yes Yes Yes Yes Gloss Radiosity, Gloss Light mapping Lighting map,Anisotropic maps Shadow Volume Shadow Mapping, Shadow Mapping, Projected planar Projected, Shadow
TheVolume reusability of content created within a comparison of the game engines, the ws Shado Environmental Environmental gameEnvironmental engine and the capability Environmental of importing researchers identified that importing a 3D Mapping Mapping and Mappingusing data from common sourcesMapping should model from CAD software into the supported Particle Systems, Particle Systems Particle Systems Particle Systems Bill Boarding Bill Boarding be Bill considered Boarding before selectingBill Boarding a game format of the game engine is a major issue
Rendering Lens Flares Lens Flares Lens Flares Lens Flares Effects Special Special engine. As budgets for creating serious and requires the developer to select specific Forward Skeletal Forward Forward Kinematics, Animation, gamesKinematics, are usually very limitedKinematics compared to components of the model for conversion and Keyframe Morphing, Facial Keyframe Keyframe Animation, Animation, commercialAnimation, entertainment Animation, games, this progressively convert and integrate them Skeletal Animation becomesSkeletal an especially Skeletal important Animation into the game engine by hand. Once this Animation, Blending Animation, Morphing, Morphing, aspect(ProtopsaltisMorphing, 2010; ProtopsaltisAnimation 2011). obstacle has been overcome, the game 13 International Journal of Interactive Worlds Animation Additionally,Animation in serious Blending games, the engines can create high-fidelity indoor and Animation Animation Blending Blending 2D Sound, 3D 2D Sound, 3D developers2D Sound, need 3D to have access2D to Sound, the SDK, 3D outdoor scenes occupied with non-player Sound Sound Sound, Streaming Sound, Streaming
d Soun GDKSound in order to add differentSound: peripheral characters in real-time. Table 4 compares the devices or connect the game engine with selected engines according to the suggested TableAnother 3: Functional major Fidelity challenge in Table the selection 2: Audiovisual of learning detectionFidelity management (P.Petridis, and path systems finding. 2012) or with Additionally, other categories. all game engines for serious games is functional game engines have integrated their own fidelity. Functional fidelity is closely related softwarephysics engines, APIs. However,and furthermore, from the each of the to the AI, CryEngine physics andSource scripting. Unre AllUnity the selected game engines has support for selected gameInternational engines Journal provide of alInteractive support for Worlds 14 scripting languages. Scripting Script various AI Yes techniques, Yes such Yes as collisionYes Table 4: Composability
Object Model Yes No No No Another major challenge in the selection of are also a number of community websites Metrics CryEngine Source Unreal Unity game enginesSupported forAI seriousCollision games Detection is Yesthat provide discussionYes Yes forums Yes and tutorials accessibility; that is, how easy it is to retrieve (Planet Unreal 2010; Unreal Wiki 2010). Import/ CAD Platforms 3ds max, 3ds max, 3ds max, 3ds max, Techniques supporting information about the game Export supported maya maya maya, maya, engine (see Table 5). CryENGINEPath provides Finding all YesDocumentation No for theYes SourceYes SDK is the necessary development tools that can be provided on the Valve Developer Community Content Import Export No No Yes No accessed from games that use Decisionthe engine Making (i.e. Yeswiki (Valve's WikiNo 2010),Yes which Yes provides the Crysis, FarCry). The engine offers the most comprehensive guide on using the Limitations Sandbox editor, which allows the user to edit Source Engine. The Source SDK contains all Content Small Large Large Medium levels inPhysics real-time. Partial sourceBasic Physics code and Yesthe necessaryYes tools in orderYes toYes create a mod documentation is included with a freely and develop game content. The Source SDK Availability downloadable SDK. Documentationsrigid body for the Yesalso provides Yes a Create Yes a Mod Yes option, which Unreal Engine are available through the copies the necessary source code and Developer SDK/GDK Yes Yes Yes No Epic’s Unreal Developer Network (UDN) resources to a working directory. A large Toolkits (Epic Games 2010), which vehicle is the dynamics official Yesnumber of otherYes websitesYes provideYes their own support site for licensees and mod discussion forums and tutorials, which range (modifications) developers, providing from general introductions to the Source SDK Table 4: Composability (P.Petridis, 2012) technicalThe reusability documentation, of content as well created as tutorials, within a comparisontools to more of specific the gametasks (Interpolers.net engines, the ; for the Unreal engine and UnrealEd. There EditLife 2010). game engine and Tablethe capability 3: Fu ofn importingctional Fidelity researchers (P.Petridis, identified 2012) that importing a 3D and using data from common sources Tableshould 5: Accesibilitymodel from CAD software into the supported be considered before selecting a game format of the game engine is a major issue engine. As budgetsMetrics for creatingCryEngine serious Sourceand requiresUnreal the developer Unity to select specific Learning Medium Medium Medium Medium games Curveare usually very limited compared to components of the model for conversion and commercialDocs and entertainment Docs games,SDK this Officialprogressively Subset convert of andDocs integrate and them becomesSupport an Quality especially includes important documentatinto the gameofficial engine byTutorials hand. Once this aspect(Protopsaltis 2010; ProtopsaltisCryENGINE 2011). ion obstacle hasdocumentat been overcome,available the game modding available on ion and from the Additionally, in serious games,guide and the Valveengines cantutorials create high-fidelityofficial indoor and developers need to have accessFAQ, to the as SDK,well Developeroutdoor scenesavailable occupied on website with non-player GDK in order to add differentas peripheralguides Communitycharacters the in real-time. Unreal Table 4 compares the for other Developer devices or connect the game tools. engine with selected enginesNetwork according to the suggested learning management systems or with other categories.(UDN) Table 6: Networking and Heterogeneity software APIs. Technica However, Yes from the Yes Yes Yes l Support (P.Petridis, 2012) Commun Yes Yes Yes Yes ity Table 4: Composability Support Licensing MetricsGame CryEngineGame SourceUnrealScrip Unreal IndieUnity and source code source code t game Pro version Import/ CAD Platformsavailable, 3ds max,available, 3ds max,source 3ds code max, available.3ds max, Export supportedcomes withmaya comes withmaya availablemaya, maya, Content ImportCryENGINE Export No Source SDKNo fromYes UDN. No LimitationsMOD SDK.
The next step in the selectionTableContent 5: process Accessibility of theSmall game (P.Petridis, engineLarge is to focus2012)Large on the heterogeneityMedium of the engines and their networkAvailability support (see Table 6). All the selected engines support client-server architectures.Developer However, if theSDK/GDK serious gameYes is goin g to supportYes a largeYes virtual worldNo with hundreds of users, a network supported layer has to be built. Toolkits
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Athanasios Tsokaktsidis (2523256) Serious Gaming
Application(s)
Examples of serious games designed for a serious purpose. They are associated in different ‘markets’ but their content makes interesting in pedagogical aspects. Lure of the Labyrinth, is an educational multiplayer online game created by MIT’s ‘The Education Arcade’ and is supported by Maryland Public Television. Designed for classroom use in middle schools, this game enables teachers to prepare “game sessions” for their students (Djaouti, 2009).
• Gameplay:
Type: Game-based.
Goals: Avoid, Match.
Means: Create, Manage, Move, Select, Write
• Purpose:
Purposes: Educative message broadcasting, Data Exchange.
• Scope:
Markets: Education.
Target audience: 11 to 15 year olds, Students.
Fatworld, is a game about the politics of nutrition, released by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (a corporation which funds public television and radio in the US) (Djaouti, 2009).
• Gameplay:
Type: Game Based.
Goals: Avoid Match.
Means: Move, Manage Select.
• Purpose:
Purposes: Educative message broadcasting, Informative message broadcasting.
• Scope
Markets: Healthcare.
Targets audience: 8 to 25 years olds, General Public.
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Stop Disasters!, a game about natural disaster prevention released by the United Nations (Djaouti, 2009).
• Gameplay:
Type: Game based.
Goals: Avoid, Match.
Means: create, Manage Select.
• Purpose:
Purposes: Educative message broadcasting, Informative message broadcasting.
• Scope:
Markets: Healthcare, Ecology, Humanitarian & Caratative.
Target audience: 12 to more than 60 years old, General Public
Social Impact
Using serious games you have the potential to marry fun and entertainment, things that most of us are naturally drawn towards – with more ‘serious’ or desired social behaviors and practices. The nomenclature ‘Serious Games’ can be both differing and misleading, since it is entirely possible to adopt healthier behaviors while thoroughly enjoying yourself.
References:
S. Chen and D. Michael, Serious Games: Games that Educate, Train and Inform. USA, Thomson Course Technology, 2005, 21.
B. Bergeron, “working context,” Developing serious games, Hingham, Mass. : Charles River Media, 2005, 23-74
SG. Senevirathne, M. Kodagoma, V. Kadle, SJ. Haake, T. Senior, BW. Heller, “Application of Serious Games” to, Sport, Health and Exercise. Sri Lanka, 2011, 1
Adams, E. and Dormans, J. (2012) Game Mechanics: Advance Game Design, USA: New Riders Games
S. Freitas, “Learning in Immersive worlds”, A review of game-based learning. JISC Pedagogy, 2006, 9
P. Petridis, I. Dunwell, D. Panzoli, S. Arnab, A. Protopsaltis, M. Hendrix, S. Freitas (2012) “Game Engines Selection Framework for High-Fidelity Serious Applications, International Journal of Interactive Worlds vol. 2012, pp. 1-19
D. Djaouti, J. Alvarez, JP. Jessel “Classifying Serious Gamesthe G/P/S model. France , 2009, 14-15
Notes: http://serious.gameclassification.com/EN/games/11511-Lure-of-The-Labyrinth/index.html http://serious.gameclassification.com/EN/games/1018-Fatworld/index.html http://serious.gameclassification.com/EN/games/1334-Stop-Disasters/index.html
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