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Abstract: "The rich interaction space of man y educational games presents a challenge for designers and researchers who strive to help players achieve specific learning outcomes. Giving players a large amount of freedom over how they perform a complex game task makes it difficult to anticipate what t hey will do. In order to ad dress this issue designers must ask : what are students do ing in my game? And does it embody what I intended them to learn? To answer these questions, designers need methods to expose the details of student play. We describe our a pproach for automatic extract ion of conceptu al features from logs of student play sessions within an open educational game utilizing a two - dimensional context - free grammar. We demonstrate how these features can be used to clu s- ter student solutions in the e ducational game RumbleBlocks . U s- ing these clusters , we explore the range of solutions and measure how many students use the designers' envisioned solution . Equipped with this information, designers and researchers can focus redesign efforts to areas in the game where discrepancies exist between the designer s' intention s and player experience s."

Lessons from a class experiment in metagames, games designed to comment on other games

Abstract :"Immigrants entering the European Community face a range of challenges in adapting to and understanding the culture of their host nation. Failure to address these challenges can lead to isolation and difficulties integrating into the society of the host country, leading to fragmented communities and a range of social issues . As part of a comprehensive suit e of services for immigrants , the European - funded M obile Assistance for Social Inclusion and Empowerment of Immigrants with Persuasive Learning Technologies and Social Network Services (MASELTOV) project seeks to provide both practical tools and le arning services via mobile devices, providing a readily usable resource for immigrants . In this workshop paper, the game - based learning aspect of the MASELTOV project is introduced, with the rationale behind its design presented. In doing so, the b enefits and implications of mobile platforms and emergent dat a capture techniques for game - based learning are discussed, as are methods for putting engaging gameplay at the forefront of the experience whilst relying on rich data capture and analysis to pro vide an effective learning solution. Through comparison to several other projects, a number of recommendations are put forward for games deployed in contexts similar to that of MASELTOV: a focus on establishing a significant audience with which to conduct ethical research into efficacy, the need for robust pedagogical frameworks suited to the learning context, and the evolution of methods for data capture and analysis of player activity."

Abstract: "Out of the recent popularity of downloadable contents (DLC) among video game manufac- turers has resurfaced the issue of versioning of informatio n goods. The central idea behind the zero-day DLC strategy is that consumers who find the base v ersion of a game to be suffi- ciently attractive would pay a premium to upgrade by purchas ing such a DLC. In this work, we combine the literature on versioning with that on product sampling to model the impact of consumer learning on the product-line strategy of a game m anufacturer. In doing so, we demonstrate that a manufacturer's desire to vertically diff erentiate could actually stem from a horizontal separation among consumers. When consumers diff er in their perception of the fit between their tastes and the features of the product, horizo ntal differentiation seems a natural choice. However, if the manufacturer is unable to classify p otential consumers into groups with distinct tastes, horizontal differentiation becomes impra ctical. We find that, interestingly, this inability to differentiate horizontally does not limit the m anufacturer from vertically positioning its product line. We characterize the conditions under whic h the DLC strategy is effective and discuss how it affects consumer and social welfare. Our resul ts also have obvious implications in markets for other digital experience goods."

Abstract: "Non-player Characters (NPCs) that accompany the player en- able a single player to participate in team-based experiences, improving immersion and allowing for more complex game- play. In this context, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) teammate should make good combat decisions, supporting the player and optimizing combat resolution. Here we investigate the target selection problem, which consists of picking the op- timal enemy as a target in a modern war game. We look at how the companion's different strategies can influence the outcome of combat, and by analyzing a variety of non-trivial First Person Shooter (FPS) scenarios show that a mathemat- ically simple approach significantly improves over common strategies typically found in games, and can achieve results similar to much more expensive look-up tree approaches. This work has applications in practical game design, show- ing that simple, computationally efficient target selection can make an excellent target selection heuristic"

Abstract: "In recent years, there has been a dramatic proliferation of research concerned with game based learning and intelligent system s . Although the intelligent agent bas ed system has existed for many years, only recently its surge of mainstream popularity motivated researchers to acknowledge its educational value. With the increasing usage of game based learning, reliability requirements for intelligent system s or multi - a gent system s have become more critical. Quiz game is one of the game types which is easy to develop and not restrict ed by any specific subject and any people . And the m ulti - agent based system is flexible and saving resource . Hence we integrate the quiz gam e into multi - agent system s , we called it m ulti - agent based quiz game and also d evelop a framework to build personalized assessment game . For the instructor, they can understand student's playing situation and experience . For the students, they have p ersona lized assessment game . In this paper, we proposed a framewor k of multi - agent based Quiz - MASter , and describe each service from each agent briefly."

From the abstract: "this study investigated how the perspectives of the non-computer science educators changed after learning game-programming and how it could be fitted into the K-12 curriculum. Fourteen non-computer science educators and/or administrators in the K - 16 educational systems who made up a cohort at Sam Houston State University, Master of Education/Instructional Technology Program participated in this study. The participants were required to learn two free Web 2.0 game-programming applications and reflect on an article related to reviving interest in math and science as part of their program. Qualitative data consisted of online reflections, and peer-review processes through Facebook. A quantitative component was added to the analysis. The findings indicated that: (a) the perspectives of the participants changed from negative to positive as they reflected on their own game-programming learning experiences; (b) participants came to understand how game programming could build up students' logical concepts and critical thinking skills improving performances in math, science, and other subjects; and (c) due to the benefits of logical concepts and critical thinking skills game programming could have immense benefits if built into the K-12 curriculum."

Abstract: "The explorer player type has remained a focal point in discussions of game design and research for several years. Though valuable insights have built an understanding of explorers from online multiplayer and individual characteristic perspectives, there still remains a need to further understand and empirically specify what aspects of games are appealing to explorers. Accordingly, the Gameplay Enjoyment Model (GEM; Quick, Atkinson, & Lin, 2012b) provides a detailed, empirical perspective on the explorer through a set of specific game design features. Using these features, games can be designed to leverage what is known about how explorers experience enjoyment through games. A practical demonstration of how to design Exploration features into a game is offered through an analysis of Pathfinders Way. This article aims to encourage a deeper understanding of explorers and provide practical guidance on how empirical research results can be incorporated into game design practice."

Abstract: "This is a paper that details the issues and problems of the process of implementing a surfing experience simulation - a surfing game. The central issue is using a person's sense of balance as the primary interface controller for a game: this paper details the process the project went through in implementing such an interface, as well as a few games which use it, included for demonstration purposes. The motivation for creating this game came from a discussion of how to integrate an active element of sense of balance into a game interface. This paper also briefly discusses the human-computer interaction (HCI) issues of new interfaces, focused on the recent shift in electronic trends away from the "classical" WIMP (windows, icons, menus and pointing device) design, toward forms of HCI which emulate more closely the natural relationship between a human body and its surroundings."

"At the April 22 Edtech MeetUp, educators, business friends, and community members will be invited to experience the excitement and engagement of game based learning. Through interactive play, attendees will explore the digital worlds that are shaping curricula across the world. Specifically, the Minecraft digital sandbox will be on full display so attendees can dive into this fascinating digital realm. After a short series of talks by Professor Seann Dikkers and EdTech Link Fellows Molly Adams and Justin Eames on utilizing games in their classrooms, attendees will circulate through the Federal Hill Rec 2 Tech center and play several educational games, including Minecraft, Portal II, and World of Warcraft."

"User centric gaming experiences with organic movement"

From the abstract: "n the last decade the popularity of MMOGs has exploded. Unfortunately, the demand has far outweighed the resources commercial game providers can provide. Many MMOGs are suffering from scalability issues, resulting in game world partitioni ng, service down time and server crashes. The centralized server architecture of most modern day MMOGs is unable to cope with this increase in the number of participating players. Hence, there is a need for a scalable network architecture which can support these large number of players without affecting the overall gaming experience for each player. In this paper, we provide a review on the existing networking infrastructure solutions for MMOGs. This includes description and comparison of different im plementation techniques for the deployment of massive multiplayer on-line games, which work as a client/server and peer-to-peer paradigms. "

Published 2013 and excerpted in Google Books. "The book helps new programmers learn the concepts and techniques used to produce appealing 2D graphics. It starts with the basics and then covers topics pertaining to motion and depth, such as cel animation, tiling, and layering. The text also describes advanced graphics, including the use of particle systems, shaders, and splines. Code samples in the text and online allow readers to see a particular line of code in action or as it relates to the code around it. In addition, challenges and suggested projects encourage readers to work through problems, experiment with solutions, and tinker with code."

"Abstract: U nderstanding how younger students can learn to collaborate , and affordances of the learning environment that can effectively support this , are critical questions for knowledge sharing, networking and innovation in education. E xploratory research results o n emergent middle schooler collaborative activity in a guided discovery - based learning program are reported . Students in self - organizing game design teams experience certain challenges (e.g., version control), and innovat e solutions. Some indicate meta - knowledge development and socialization gains. We conclude with ongoing questions."

Abstract: "ideo games and other applications using off - the - shelf tracking devices often take a simple approach to gesture and pose recognition: a recognized gesture is always mapped to the same action . This approach basically turns a gesture into a binary button pre ss and misses much of the nuance implicit in natural gestures. In this paper we explore , in a game design setting , the use of continuous 3D gesture sequences where in attributes of individual gestures, such as speed, direction, etc., combine to influence th e r esult of the sequence as a whole . We present Pixelbending, a game demo built using the Microsoft Kinect and Unreal Developers Kit (UDK) in which the player performs Tai Chi inspired movements to control water. Designed with the goal of creating a fun an d engaging 3D game experience built on a nuanced gesture set, the demo was well received by many players of different ages and sizes. Through the development process we encountered challenges to working with off - the - shelf devices."

towards a game tutorial to "adapts to the skill of the player and tailors itself to the individual player"

Abstract: "The advantage of using app verses tradition browsing on mobile devices in the market can improve communication with customer. Allowing more creative way to promote brand and advertise to the growing crowd of mobile ecommerce. Mobile apps will be a great tool to simplify the customer‟s path to products that they value in the future as mobile market grows larger and more complex. Organizations that fail to see and act on the potential of the growing mobile market will get left behind. Additionally those that can simplify mobile commerce, making commerce more interactive with less hassle, give customer the experience they want, more secure, and put all that in the palm of a customer‟s hand will be able to ride the trend to success."

Abstract: :In this paper, I draw on an embodied cognition approach todescribe how sound mediates our identification with andempathy for video game characters. This identification isdiscussed in terms of mirror neurons and body schema, drawingon theoretical and empirical research to explore ways in whichidentity is created from our embodied interaction with sound. Iconclude by suggesting ways in which sound designers andcomposers can use this information to create more empathy andidentification between players and their game characters."

From the abstract: "Collective Artificial Intelligence (CAI) simulates human intelligence from data contributed by many humans, mined for inter-related patterns. This thesis applies CAI to social role-playing, introducing an end-to-end process for compositing recorded performances from thousands of humans, and simulating open-ended interaction from this data. The CAI process combines crowdsourcing, pattern discovery, and case-based planning. Content creation is crowdsourced by recording role-players online. Browser-based tools allow non-experts to annotate data, organizing content into a hierarchical narrative structure. Patterns discovered from data power a novel system combining plan recognition with case-based planning. The combination of this process and structure produces a new medium, which exploits a massive corpus to realize characters who interact and converse with humans. This medium enables new experiences in videogames, and new classes of training simulations, therapeutic applications, and social robots. .... As a proof of concept, a CAI system has been evaluated by recording over 10,000 performances in The Restaurant Game, automating an AI-controlled waitress who interacts in the world, and converses with a human via text or speech. Quantitative results demonstrate CAI supports significantly open-ended interaction with humans, while focus groups reveal factors for improving engagement."

abstract: "Creating graphical user interfaces (GUI) for stereoscopic 3D (S3D) games is a difficult choice between visual comfort and effect. We present a S3D Game GUI Design Space and a list of S3D-specific attributes that emphasizes integrating visually comfortable interfaces into the game world, story and S3D view. To showcase our approach, we created two GUI concepts and evaluated them with 32 users. Our results show quality improvements for a combination of bottom position and visual attachment for a menu. In a referencing interface, placing the reference near to the target depth significantly improved perceived quality, game integration, and increased presence. These results confirm the need to create S3D GUIs with perceptual constraints in mind, demonstrating the potential to extend the user experience. Additionally, our design space offers a formal and flexible way to create new effects in S3D GUIs."