Where to get Ideas for Learning Games, Gamification or Simulations

Sneak peak from theupcoming The Gamification of Learning and Instruction Fieldbook.

The best place to start to design a game, gamificaiton experience or simulation is to play games, lots of games. In today’s modern online and video games, the elements of gamification and simulation abound. The simulated environments of Call of Duty games are highly realistic to the point of almost being a simulation.

The elements of socialization and leveling up in games like Farmville and the points progression in games such as Angry Birds all serve as excellent examples of elements that can be used within games, gamification and simulations for learning. Even playing board games with the perspective of a game designer can provide ideas.

However, you can’t play these games for fun. You need to play them as homework. The homework you are doing is gaining insight into what the game developers are doing and how they are holding your attention, directing you from one place to another and providing you with the information you need to be successful.

Examine the help system, the feedback provided and even what happens when you fail to accomplish a goal at a certain level. These types of insights will guide you as you examine the games. You must also resolve to play different types of games. Most people gravitate toward one game genre or another. Some people just like to play casual games like Bejeweled or Angry Birds, some people like Farmville type games while others like first person shooters. Regardless of the types of games you like, branch out.

Make it your mission to play a different type of game every day. Record what you like or don’t like about those games. The more you play games and the more you start to get into the head of the developers, the more you’ll gain insight into creating games, gamification and simulations for learning.

Choose to play games that have the activities of:

• Collecting/Capturing
• Allocating Resources
• Strategizing
• Building
• Puzzle Solving
• Exploring
• Helping
• Role Playing

Recommended games to play to get a sense of the different types of games include:

• Civilization V
• Myst
• Railroad Tycoon
• Angry Birds
• Darfur is Dying
• Uncharted Series
• Halo Series
• Wii Sports Games
• Fruit Ninja
• Risk
• Settlers of Catan
• Chutes and Ladders

Questions to ask yourself while playing these games include:

• What is the objective of this game? How do I know?
• What type of tutorial or instructions did I receive prior to playing the game?
• What type of feedback and I getting during this game?
• What activities am I doing in the game that are of value? How do I know they are of value?
• What rewards do I get for accomplishing the tasks of the game?
• What rewards are expected? What are unexpected?
• What types of help is offered? Are there “life lines” or advice given by non-player characters along the way?
• How many levels are in this game?
• What is this game teaching me?
• What elements in the game are like elements in a simulation?
• What elements are like gamification elements? Is there a leaderboard?
• Is there a single player and multi-player mode? How are they the same or different?

Answering these questions and playing these games will provide you with an excellent foundation from which you can brainstorm ideas for your own learning games, gamification and simulations.

If you can’t wait for the fieldbook, this book contains great information on the subject above: