First, it is important to understand that a game/simulation is not educational just because it is a game/simulation. Instead, a game/simulation is an effective educational tool primarily because of the high level of interactivity and instant feedback. Well designed games/simulations engage the learner in a constant decision making process. The learner is forced to interact and think through the content and then witnesses immediate or near immediate feedback based on his or her actions. So the most critical aspect is not the technology (which is the focus of many when thinking about games/simulations) rather the most critical aspect is the design. The design must be interactive and provide realistic or corrective feedback as the learner progresses and the game/simulation must maintain a balance between anxiety and boredom which is known as the elusive “flow state.”
Dianne Rees on 07 Feb 12Agent Surefire: Breach Buster is a Cybersecurity Serious Game created for ESET USA - a leading security solutions provider for corporate, home and mobile phone users - powered by MAVI Serious Game Engine, and deployed over the Web, Facebook and LMS. The Serious Game, which is based on real-world Cyber Crime scenarios, immerses players in an adventure context that relies on a plethora of security breach situations to build awareness around Information Security.