Serious Gaming from Coursera

Have you ever wondered how playing games can help us to train people, deal with societal challenges or raise awareness of contemporary social issues?

In this MOOC you will learn the ins and outs of games that are designed with exactly those purposes in mind: serious games. We will define serious games and discuss the different types that have been developed. We will explain why people like to play them and what impact they may have. State of the art theories from game studies, philosophy and media psychology will be used to help you understand how serious games work and how they appeal to players. The potential impact of gaming is addressed in detail by discussing persuasive games, which aim at changing the player's attitude. Throughout the MOOC, theoretical insights will be illustrated with playful animations and case studies of serious games that are developed by world-class companies in the city of Rotterdam.

This MOOC is particularly interesting for you when you are a student considering to study digital media such as serious games, a professional interested in the opportunities these games may create for your organization, or a game developer who wants to know more about the impact serious games can have. Note that this MOOC will not teach you how to design a serious game.

Watch the teaser for this MOOC here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqjY1KSsEx8

Are you ready to broaden your vision on serious games? Join this course and be inspired!

What's inside

Syllabus

Let the games begin: What are serious games?

Get ready to immerse yourself! This is the first week of the serious gaming course of Erasmus University Rotterdam. Although probably all of you have some personal experience with playing entertainment games – serious games are less known. To be able to study the subject, we first need to understand what serious games are. Therefore, we start this course by defining serious games and showing you what characteristics they have. Also, you might wonder if there is a clear difference between entertainment games and serious games; can entertainment games teach? Can serious games entertain? You will get an answer to these questions. Before we officially start, you might want to get an overview of the course and what you can expect the coming weeks. To make it easier for you to schedule your own learning path, we recommend that you watch the video: What can you expect of this course?

Introduction to game theory

Now that we know what serious games are, we take you a level deeper. In this module we will provide you with two perspectives on games: the cultural perspective and the psychological perspective. The cultural perspective shows us how play and culture are connected. Humans are playful, and play serves a social function in our society. The psychological perspective explains in more depth why we keep on playing a game, even though we sometimes lose or get stuck in a level. You will learn about what is so motivating about games. We will not only discuss theories, but also give you a practical example of a serious game that encourages commuters to leave their car at home more often.

Different types of serious games

From a brain training game to a game that simulates working in the emergency room in the hospital; throughout this MOOC, you will learn that serious games are applicable in various situations. In this module, we will introduce you to a taxonomy of serious games; a classification of the different kinds of serious games. Gamification is the lightest form of serious games - game elements are used in a non-game context. Simulations are the most immersive and 'serious' type of serious games. Players can actually practice a certain skill in a game. In this module, you will not only get explanation, you can also take a look at three case studies.

Persuasive Gaming

So far you have learned what serious games are, how they are different from entertainment games and other media products, and you have seen a range of domains where serious games can be used. This module, we will dive into the way serious games work. How can a game influence the attitude of a player? You will be introduced to persuasive games. Rhetoric and psychological theories will help you to understand how the process of persuasion works. And we will analyze in practice how persuasive games can help us to feel empathy for poverty-stricken teenagers, what it feels like to have autism or understand the impact of gun violence.

The Impact of Serious Games

By now you probably wonder to what extent serious games actually reach their desired outcome. This seems to be the million-dollar-question, because when an organization invests serious money in a serious game, they would like to be sure it works. But the answer is not that simple. To know more about impact, you need to know more about what it means, its complexities and understand what we already know about the impact of serious games. You will need this knowledge to be able to assess claims on certain impacts serious games can have. This module, we do not have a separate case-study, but we invited three serious games researchers to a round table in the studio, in which they will tell you about their own case studies and research projects. Put on your lab coat!

The Futures of Serious Games

This is the final module of this course. Now you know and understand many aspects of serious games, and are aware of state-of-the-art research concerning the persuasiveness and impact of serious games, it is interesting to look forward. Although we do not own a crystal ball, we will explore some possible futures of serious games. Will we be playing games in virtual reality, or will we guide our game characters with our brains? We will discuss two technological developments in more detail; virtual reality and augmented reality. But before we look forward, this module will also provide you with a brief overview of all the things we have discussed so far. At the end, you will find the final quiz to test your knowledge gained throughout this course. Good luck!

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Well-structured and progressive program with a module-by-module tour of the history, culture, and impact of serious games

Engaging content that combines credible theories, gameplay principles, and illuminating case studies

Provides a solid foundation in the fundamentals of serious games, making it suitable for beginners in the field

Taught by experienced instructors in the field of serious games, ensuring the credibility and relevance of the content

Notably suitable for entertainment game developers seeking to explore the potential of serious games in their domain

May require additional research and exploration for learners seeking a comprehensive understanding of game design principles

Reviews summary

Valuable serious gaming course

Learners say this course is engaging and valuable for individuals interested in making changes happen. The videos encourage learner participation and applying concepts through gameplay. Students have ample review time and supportive, enthusiastic instructors.

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Serious Gaming with these activities:

Identify Game Elements

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Being able to identify the elements of a game is essential for understanding how games work and how to design them.

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Play a variety of games
Identify the elements of each game, such as the goal, rules, and challenges

Read 'The Art of Game Design' by Jesse Schell

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This book provides a comprehensive overview of the game design process. It is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about game design.

View The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses, Third... on Amazon

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Read the book
Take notes on important concepts
Apply what you have learned to your own game design projects

Develop a Game Concept

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Developing a game concept is the first step in creating a serious game. This activity will help you to learn the basics of game design and development.

Browse courses on Game Design

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Read articles and books about game design
Watch tutorials on game development
Create a game concept document

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Create a Game Design Document

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Creating a game design document is an important step in the game development process. This activity will help you to plan out your game and ensure that it is well-designed.

Browse courses on Game Design

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Brainstorm ideas for your game
Write a game design document
Get feedback on your game design document

Playtest Your Game Concept

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Playtesting your game concept is an important step in the development process. This activity will help you to get feedback on your game from other people.

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Find some people to playtest your game concept
Observe how people play your game
Get feedback from the players

Attend a Game Design Workshop

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Attending a game design workshop can be a great way to learn new skills and techniques. This activity will help you to connect with other game designers and learn from experienced professionals.

Browse courses on Game Design

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Find a game design workshop to attend
Attend the workshop
Take notes and ask questions
Apply what you have learned to your own game design projects

Mentor a New Game Designer

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Mentoring a new game designer can be a rewarding experience. This activity will help you to share your knowledge and skills with others.

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Find a new game designer to mentor
Meet with your mentee regularly
Provide feedback and guidance on their game design projects
Help your mentee to achieve their goals

Enter a Game Design Competition

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Entering a game design competition can be a great way to test your skills and get feedback from other game designers. This activity will help you to improve your game design skills and build your portfolio.

Browse courses on Game Design

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Find a game design competition to enter
Create a game for the competition
Submit your game to the competition
Attend the award ceremony

Career center

Learners who complete Serious Gaming will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Serious Game Designer

Serious Game Designers are responsible for designing and developing games that are intended to be used for educational, training, or other non-entertainment purposes.

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Persuasive Game Designer

Persuasive Game Designers are responsible for designing and developing games that are intended to change people's attitudes and behaviors.

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Game Developer

Game Developers are responsible for programming and developing video games.

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Game Designer

Game Designers are responsible for designing and developing video games.

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Media Psychologist

Media Psychologists are responsible for studying the effects of media on human behavior. This course may be useful for Media Psychologists who want to learn more about how to use games and simulations to influence attitudes and behaviors.

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User Experience Designer

User Experience Designers are responsible for designing and developing the user interface for websites, software applications, and other digital products.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and testing software applications.

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Advertising Creative

Advertising Creatives are responsible for developing and executing advertising campaigns.

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Public Relations Specialist

Public Relations Specialists are responsible for managing the public image of organizations and individuals.

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Market Researcher

Market Researchers are responsible for collecting and analyzing data about consumers and markets.

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Educational Researcher

Educational Researchers are responsible for conducting research on how people learn. This course may be useful for Educational Researchers who want to learn more about how to use games and simulations to enhance learning.

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Digital Marketing Specialist

Digital Marketing Specialists are responsible for planning and executing digital marketing campaigns.

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Educational Psychologist

Educational Psychologists are responsible for studying how people learn and applying this knowledge to educational settings. This course may be useful for Educational Psychologists who want to learn more about how to use games and simulations to enhance learning.

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Data Scientist

Data Scientists are responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to solve business problems.

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Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers are responsible for designing and developing educational materials and resources. This course may be useful for Instructional Designers who want to learn more about how to use games and simulations to enhance learning.

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