Serious Game Design: the social perspective

Innovations in information technology together with evolutions in pedagogical approaches encourage the rapid integration of technology-supported interventions in mainstream teaching and training practices. One area attracting particularly attention in this respect is serious games (SG). Many studies have highlighted the positive qualities of SGs, such as their persuasiveness and motivational appeal, which can support immersive, situated and learner centred learning experiences. Beside contexts that concern workplace training or client training, the potential of SGs has extended to other specific business activities, such as marketing. While researchers and practitioners agree on the multiple benefits and potential of these emerging media in the learning and business environment, their development remains a challenge. Game applications are usually complex, interactive, real-time systems, which are non-trivial to implement. Designing human-centred educational games that have rich storylines is not an easy undertaking. The authors explore the context of serious game design, with special attention given to social game mechanics, as key promoters of motivation, engagement, and feedback. This paper has been funded by the PARTNERSHIPS in Priority Areas Programme - PN II implemented with the support of MEN - UEFISCDI, project no. 19/2014.