The use of tablet computers have increased significantly in numerous parts of society during recent years, and the educational sector is no exception. Use of games in educational situations has intrigued scholars of different disciplines, presenting both favouring and opposing opinions. Whilst the educational effectiveness of the game media is discussed, research done in the area of cognitive development, psychology and pedagogy argue for the importance of play and the positive effects it entails on education and learning. This thesis investigates to what extent playfulness has been incorporated into the educational game-genre for children on Google Play by studying four games from the genre along with a fifth game from the entertainment section for comparison. Based on selected literature discussing play, education and games eleven attributes were assembled to dissect the games and to measure their playfulness and educational effectiveness.The study proved that educational games for children seldom possess playful elements. The analysed games possessed very few of the attributes from the study and tended to focus on educational values rather than offering a playful approach to learning, resembling the traditional educational school system. The lack of playfulness and effective guidance in the games and the absence of knowledge of modern, active and tested educational theories to basethe game design on lead the educational game genre to produce educationally ineffective games, which in turn effects the educational game market as whole.

This thesis aims to find out the usage of colour in the game called Journey (2012). It is a case study which focuses on three different scenes in the game and how their colour scheme affects the game both emotionally and the storyline progress. The question that will be answered is: How does the choice of colour affect the players perception on an emotional level? This thesis talks about how different colours affect us in different ways and why this plays a major part in gameplay situations and how the drastic change of colour portraits different emotions. The colour choice is of great importance since it affects humans on an emotional level that enhances the experience felt by players during different scenes.

Orientador: Antonio Francisco Magnoni / Resumo: O objeto desta dissertação consiste de um game didático para utilização em sala de aula como objeto formal de ensino-aprendizagem para a disciplina de Literatura do Ensino Médio da educação básica escolar brasileira, a partir da adaptação interativa da obra “Macunaíma”, do escritor modernista Mário de Andrade, dando origem ao game “Na Trilha de Macunaíma”. Para tanto, esta pesquisa tem como objetivo constituir um repertório satisfatório acerca dos aspectos teóricos, técnicos e de todos os recursos necessários para a criação e o desenvolvimento de um GDD e de um Roteiro Interativo para games didáticos. Como objetivos específicos, temos em primeiro lugar a constituição dos parâmetros pedagógicos pertinentes ao conceito apresentado para definir e parametrizar um game didático, e em segundo lugar a construção do GDD do game detalhando especialmente os aspectos pertinentes e essenciais ao Ato I (que engloba os três primeiros capítulos e outras partes interativas da narrativa original) de “Na Trilha de Macunaíma”, bem como do Roteiro Interativo também do Ato I. A intenção é apresentar uma colaboração para a problemática acerca de quais as etapas e parâmetros essenciais da criação, desenvolvimento e constituição de um GDD e de um Roteiro Interativo adequados no que se refere à criação de games didáticos a partir narrativas complexas, não lineares e multirramificadas. Como metodologia, utilizamos a pesquisa bibliográfica para os capítulos em que se desenvolve a fundamentação teórica ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This research aims to produce and present a didactic game which might satisfactorily be used in the classroom as a formal object in school learning processes for students in High School, related to the subject of Literature in Brazilian basic education, from the interactive adaptation of "Macunaíma", a novel written by the modernist Mário de Andrade, which is here presented as the game "Na Trilha de Macunaíma" (Macunaíma’s Trail). Therefore, this research aims to provide a satisfactory repertoire on the theoretical, technical and all the necessary resources for the creation and development of a GDD and an Interactive Script for didactic games. As our specific objectives, first of all this research aims to produce the pedagogical parameters pertinent to the concept presented to define and parameterize a didactic game, and then the creation and development of the Game’s GDD detailing especially the pertinent and essential aspects to Act I (that includes the three first chapters and other interactive parts of the original narrative) of the game, as well as the Interactive Script also concerning the First Act. The intention is to present a collaboration on the problematic about which are the essential stages and parameters of the creation, development and Constitution of an appropriate GDD and Interactive Script regarding to the creation of didactic games from complex, non-linear and multi-stranded narratives. As a methodology, we have used bibliographical research for the chapte... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Design philosophies in MMOs seem to have seen a shift in recent years. What used to be designs for social dependencies and challenging content seems to have become designs for social independence and casual play. This has not gone by unnoticed by communities of players that have gradually increased in size, hoping to find regression in design philosophies for their favorite games. This study combines the social component of Yee’s (2006) model for motivations for online play with Bradner’s (2001) concept of social affordances, and quantitative surveys with qualitative interviews in order to examine how the social player experience in World of Warcraft has changed in relation to changes made to the game. Some of the findings are that the incentives and necessity for socializing with strangers in the game has generally diminished as a consequence of changes made in the game that focus on practical efficiency. External factors that seems to have played a role in these results are age, technological contexts and life contexts of the respondents.

In 2015, the Narrative model was created as a result of a study exploring how episodic games keep player’s interests through combining narrative and gameplay. In this thesis, the Narrative model is used as a framework for designing a language game for children to see whether that makes players more inclined to keep playing than a game not designed based on the model. Two games were created and evaluated in a within subject controlled experiment. Player enjoyment was measured by using GameFlow as a basis for interview questions and Likert scales. The results indicated that the game based on the model more successfully achieved GameFlow than the game that was not. As such, it was concluded that the model can be used as a tool for game design to increase the desire to keep playing a game, but that it needs further study to be validated.

Denna studie undersöker olika designval inom datorspel för att skapa intressanta och varierade nivåer som kan tilltala både erfarna spelare och nybörjare inom en av de populäraste fritidsaktiviterna i världen. Att designa en nivå i ett spel är en tidskrävande process, och ett sätt att korta ner på detta arbete är att låta en dator skapa nivåer efter specifika instruktioner, genom en process som kallas för procedurell generering. Målet med denna studie är att ta reda på vilka designval som behöver tas i åtanke för att skapa program för att procedurellt generera nivåer i spel som är anpassade efter en specifik målgrupp. Studiens forskningsfråga lyder: Vilka element krävs i ett 2D-plattformsspel för att spelare skall tycka om spelet? Samt vilka undersökta PCG-algoritmer och parameterinställningar lämpar sig för att skapa ett spel som uppfyller dessa önskemål? För att göra detta utvecklades ett datorspel som använde sig av olika former av procedurell generering. Respondenter från olika målgrupper utformade efter deras spelvanor intervjuades för att ta reda på vilka aspekter personer från varje grupp letade efter i ett datorspel, och det egenutvecklade spelet utformades efter respondenternas svar. Efter detta så fick ett större antal informanter testa spelet och svara på enkätfrågor som sedan sammanställdes och analyserades för att ta reda på vilka aspekter av spelets genererade nivåer som informanterna från varje målgrupp tyckte att datorn hade lyckats med. En del av de resultat vi fått från studien var bland annat att folk som spelar ofta blir mer motiverade av ett poängsystem än folk som spelar mer sällan, samt att alla målgrupper tyckte om en stor variation mellan nivåerna. / This study examines different design choices within computer games to create interesting and varied levels that can appeal to both seasoned gamers and newcomers in one of the most popular hobbies in the world. Designing a level is a time-consuming process, and a way to shorten this work is to let a computer create the levels based on specific instructions, through a process called procedural generation. The goal of this study is to find out what design choices that needs to be taken into account in order to create programs to procedurally generate levels in games that are tailored for a specific target audience. The research question of this study is: Which elements are required in a 2D-platforming game in order for players to enjoy it? And which of the examined PCG-algorithms and parameter settings are suitable for creating a game that fulfils these requirements? In order to do this, a computer game was developed which used various forms of procedural generation. Respondents from target audiences based on their gaming habits were interviewed in order to find out what aspects people from each group looked for in a video game, and the in-house developed computer game was designed based on the respondents’ answers. After this a larger number of people tested the game and answered a survey, which was later compiled and analysed to find out which aspects of the games generated levels that the players from each target audience felt that the computer had been successful in. A part of the results that we found in this study are among other thing that people who play games more often are more motivated by a score system than other players who play less. And that all target audiences prefer varied level design.

Submitted by JANAINA LEITE DE AZEVEDO null (janainalazevedo@faac.unesp.br) on 2018-01-31T00:43:27Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação_Janaina L. Azevedo_Biblioteca.pdf: 31729498 bytes, checksum: a5119b4f1d146fdcad53f7ded766d627 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Marlene Zaniboni null (zaniboni@bauru.unesp.br) on 2018-01-31T18:45:45Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 azevedo_jl_me_bauru.pdf: 31729498 bytes, checksum: a5119b4f1d146fdcad53f7ded766d627 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-01-31T18:45:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 azevedo_jl_me_bauru.pdf: 31729498 bytes, checksum: a5119b4f1d146fdcad53f7ded766d627 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-13 / O objeto desta dissertação consiste de um game didático para utilização em sala de aula como objeto formal de ensino-aprendizagem para a disciplina de Literatura do Ensino Médio da educação básica escolar brasileira, a partir da adaptação interativa da obra “Macunaíma”, do escritor modernista Mário de Andrade, dando origem ao game “Na Trilha de Macunaíma”. Para tanto, esta pesquisa tem como objetivo constituir um repertório satisfatório acerca dos aspectos teóricos, técnicos e de todos os recursos necessários para a criação e o desenvolvimento de um GDD e de um Roteiro Interativo para games didáticos. Como objetivos específicos, temos em primeiro lugar a constituição dos parâmetros pedagógicos pertinentes ao conceito apresentado para definir e parametrizar um game didático, e em segundo lugar a construção do GDD do game detalhando especialmente os aspectos pertinentes e essenciais ao Ato I (que engloba os três primeiros capítulos e outras partes interativas da narrativa original) de “Na Trilha de Macunaíma”, bem como do Roteiro Interativo também do Ato I. A intenção é apresentar uma colaboração para a problemática acerca de quais as etapas e parâmetros essenciais da criação, desenvolvimento e constituição de um GDD e de um Roteiro Interativo adequados no que se refere à criação de games didáticos a partir narrativas complexas, não lineares e multirramificadas. Como metodologia, utilizamos a pesquisa bibliográfica para os capítulos em que se desenvolve a fundamentação teórica e em que apresentamos o estado da arte, dando preferência aos conteúdos próprios ao contexto da educação brasileira e da produção de games no Brasil. Para a criação e desenvolvimento do GDD e do Roteiro Interativo, a apresentação do produto é resultado da produção empírica calcada nos parâmetros levantados. Como resultados, este trabalho oferece tanto ao design de games quanto à educação escolar brasileira a possibilidade de promover a integração e a interdisciplinaridade entre a literatura e outras disciplinas associadas com a tecnologia, formalizando a disposição dos conteúdos pedagógicos pertinentes dentro dos parâmetros legais e pedagógicos necessários para que os games possam ser utilizados em sala de aula, bem repertórios teóricos e técnicos das áreas relacionadas ao processo de criação e desenvolvimento de games didáticos. / This research aims to produce and present a didactic game which might satisfactorily be used in the classroom as a formal object in school learning processes for students in High School, related to the subject of Literature in Brazilian basic education, from the interactive adaptation of "Macunaíma", a novel written by the modernist Mário de Andrade, which is here presented as the game "Na Trilha de Macunaíma" (Macunaíma’s Trail). Therefore, this research aims to provide a satisfactory repertoire on the theoretical, technical and all the necessary resources for the creation and development of a GDD and an Interactive Script for didactic games. As our specific objectives, first of all this research aims to produce the pedagogical parameters pertinent to the concept presented to define and parameterize a didactic game, and then the creation and development of the Game’s GDD detailing especially the pertinent and essential aspects to Act I (that includes the three first chapters and other interactive parts of the original narrative) of the game, as well as the Interactive Script also concerning the First Act. The intention is to present a collaboration on the problematic about which are the essential stages and parameters of the creation, development and Constitution of an appropriate GDD and Interactive Script regarding to the creation of didactic games from complex, non-linear and multi-stranded narratives. As a methodology, we have used bibliographical research for the chapters in which the theoretical basis is developed and in which we present the state of art, giving preference to the contents proper to the context of Brazilian education and the production of games in Brazil. For the creation and development of the GDD and the Interactive Script, the presentation of the product is a result of the empirical production based on the parameters raised. As results, this work offers both game design and Brazilian school education grounds in which the possibility of promoting integration and interdisciplinarity between literature and other disciplines associated with technology flourish, formalizing the provision of relevant pedagogical contents within the necessary legal and pedagogical parameters So that the games can be used in the classroom, as well as theoretical and technical repertoires of the areas related to the process of creation and development of didactic games.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-18T12:52:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTACAO_ALLAN KASSIO BECKMAN SOARES DA CRUZ.pdf: 3904761 bytes, checksum: fcf2b0e10224d47b174664dcde46f7b8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-06-02 / In recent years within the emerged game development tools and methodologies that try define, practical and theoretically, the practices for the creative process of game design (SALEN; ZIMMERMAN, 2012). These tools and methodologies often xclude and end up to be more difficult the job of game designer. Factors such as playful interaction,rules and culture are relevant to the development of a good game. This master s thesis uses as a study object the board games and aims to create a set of heuristics that are able to assess the rules of any board game. To achieve this goal was established a methodology that trasnform the rule of these games in an interaction model that can be evaluated by computer systems assessment methodologies as the heuristics of Nielsen (1994). Originally the Nielsen heuristics have been proposed and developed for sability evaluation in computer systems interfaces. We proposes an analysis and redesign in order to specialize these heuristics to use in the evaluation rules of board games. Heuristics pass through redesign process from literature, considerations and models generated on the rules found in each tested game, and analysis of existing rules in these games through inspection method using heuristics Nielsen (1994). The results indicate the viability of using generated heuristics for the evaluating of usability of the board games rules. / Nos últimos anos dentro da área de desenvolvimento de jogos surgiram ferramentas e metodologias que tentam por vezes de forma prática e por vezes de forma teórica definir as práticas do processo criativo do design de jogos (SALEN; ZIMMERMAN, 2012). Essas ferramentas e metodologias muitas vezes se excluem e acabam tornando mais difícil o trabalho do designer de jogos. Fatores como interação lúdica, regras e cultura são relevantes para o desenvolvimento de um bom jogo. Este trabalho utiliza como objeto de estudo os jogos de tabuleiro e tem como objetivo a criação de um conjunto de heurísticas que sejam capazes de avaliar as regras de qualquer jogo de tabuleiro. Para alcançar esse objetivo foi criada uma etodologia que transforma a regra desses jogos em um modelo de interação passível de ser avaliado por metodologias de avaliação de sistemas computacionais como as heurísticas de Nielsen (1994). Originalmente as heurísticas de Nielsen foram propostas e desenvolvidas para avaliação de usabilidade em interfaces de sistemas computacionais.No decorrer do trabalho propõe-se uma análise e redesenho de forma a especializar essas heurísticas para emprego na avaliação de regras de jogos de tabuleiros. As heurísticas passam pelo processo de redesenho a partir de levantamento bibliográfico, considerações e modelos gerados sobre as regras encontradas em cada jogo testado, além da análise das regras existentes nesses jogos através de método de inspeção utilizando as heurísticas de Nielsen (1994) e as eurísticas geradas durante o redesenho. Os resultados apontam para a viabilidade da utilização das heurísticas geradas para a avaliação de usabilidade das regras de jogos de tabuleiro.

Submitted by Marta Toyoda (1144061@mackenzie.br) on 2018-05-03T00:05:28Z No. of bitstreams: 2 ALCIDES TEIXEIRA BARBOZA JUNIOR.pdf: 9020009 bytes, checksum: 471b5496a42233bdb8f2c97b65202fd4 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Paola Damato (repositorio@mackenzie.br) on 2018-05-04T16:06:30Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 ALCIDES TEIXEIRA BARBOZA JUNIOR.pdf: 9020009 bytes, checksum: 471b5496a42233bdb8f2c97b65202fd4 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-04T16:06:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 ALCIDES TEIXEIRA BARBOZA JUNIOR.pdf: 9020009 bytes, checksum: 471b5496a42233bdb8f2c97b65202fd4 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-03-12 / Digital games make use of the principles related to the concepts of persuasion, motivation and engagement, principles that are often applied intuitively and unsystematically in the game design process. However, these principles are not always followed, they need more precise definitions, as well as a systematization. Therefore, this thesis aims to propose a framework called PerMotivE (Persuasion - Motivation - Engagement), formed by three components: the first is a conceptual model, called PerMotivE Model, whose objective is to define guidelines and relations between these bases in a systematization of the concepts persuasion, motivation and engagement based on a literature review; the second is a software architecture proposal that aims to support the use of the framework, this component is called PerMotivE Maker; the third component of the framework establishes a set of elements that make up a simplified GDD proposal, called PerMotivE Artifacts, making available the artifacts used in a game design, analyzed by means of Bayesian networks, as to its adherence to the proposed guidelines in the conceptual model . Based on the components of this framework, a web application was developed with the aim of evaluating it together with a limited group of designers to evaluate its pertinence in the elaboration of some game designs. These designs were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively in order to verify the relevance of the framework. It has been found that the conceptual model can help designers to understand the principles that influence, motivate and engage players in games. It was also noticed that some guidelines could not be evaluated due to the inexistence of game prototypes analyzed through their designs. It has also been found that the application developed for the tests can be expanded to assist the game design process more broadly. In general, the framework was adequate for the purpose of evidencing the principles related to persuasion, motivation and engagement that can be worked on in the game design process from its artifacts. / Os jogos digitais fazem uso dos princípios relacionados aos conceitos de persuasão, motivação e engajamento, princípios que, na maioria das vezes são aplicados de forma intuitiva e não sistemática no processo de game design. Contudo, nem sempre esses princípios são devidamente seguidos, uma vez que carecem de definições mais precisas, bem como de uma sistematização. Isto posto, esta tese tem como objetivo propor um framework denominado PerMotivE (Persuasão – Motivação – Engajamento), formado por três componentes: o primeiro é modelo conceitual, denominado de PerMotivE Model, cujo objetivo é definir diretrizes e relações entre estas embasado em uma sistematização dos conceitos de persuasão, motivação e engajamento com base em uma revisão de literatura; o segundo é uma proposta de arquitetura de software que visa dar suporte ao uso do framework. Este componente é denominado PerMotivE Maker. O terceiro componente do framework estabelece um conjunto de elementos que compõem uma proposta de GDD simplificado, denominado de PerMotivE Artifacts, disponibilizando os artefatos utilizados em um game design analisados computacionalmente, por meio de redes bayesianas, quanto à sua aderência as diretrizes propostas no modelo conceitual. Baseando-se nos componentes desse framework, foi desenvolvida uma aplicação web com o intuito de avaliá-lo junto com um grupo limitado de designers para avaliar sua pertinência na elaboração de alguns game designs. Tais designs foram avaliados de forma quali-quantitativamente a fim de verificar a pertinência do framework. Verificou-se que o modelo conceitual pode auxiliar os designers a compreender os princípios que influenciam, motivam e engajam os jogadores nos jogos. Também se percebeu que algumas diretrizes não puderam ser avaliadas devido à inexistência de protótipos dos jogos analisados por meio dos seus designs. Verificou-se também que a aplicação desenvolvida para os testes pode ser expandida para auxiliar o processo de game design de forma mais ampla. De forma geral, o framework se mostrou adequado quanto ao propósito de evidenciar os princípios ligados a persuasão, motivação e engajamento que podem ser trabalhados no processo de game design a partir dos seus artefatos.

I denna uppsats undersöks hur spelares beteende i virtuella miljöer skiljer sig när modern HMD VR-teknik används jämfört med traditionell bildskärm i 2D. Genom att utveckla en spelprototyp i 3D med förstapersonsperspektiv i pusselgenren där spelarens mål är att finna objekt i olika rum har en komparativ studie genomförts. Spelprototypen skapades med hjälp av metoden prototyputveckling. En alfaversion testades innan den slutgiltiga versionen gjordes klart.   Två grupper med 7 personer i vardera har utfört testet. Ena gruppen använde HMD VR-glasögonen Oculus Rift DK2 medan den andra använde traditionell bildskärm i 2D. Styrning skedde med tangentbord och mus. En dataloggning kördes i bakgrunden av varje användartest som samlade in information om spelarens positions- och rotationsdata. Denna data analyserades sedan och jämfördes mellan grupperna.   Sammanfattningsvis utgörs ingen stark skillnad mellan dom två grupperna. Den största skillnaden är i hur mycket mark som har täckts av spelarna. I gruppen som spelade med VR-glasögon stod spelarna still mer och gick inte runt och utforskade lika mycket. Men dom var cirka 5 sekunder snabbare i genomsnitt. Gruppen som spelade utan VR-glasögon tittade upp och ner något mer men som mest skiljde det sig endast 5 grader. / In this thesis the behaviours of players in virtual environments using modern HMD VR technology and traditional 2D monitors is studied and compared. By developing a game prototype in 3D using a first-person perspective and placing it in the puzzle genre by having the players goal being that they must find an object in different rooms a comparative study has been carried out. The game prototype was developed by using prototyping and an alpha version was tested before the final version was completed.   Two groups of 7 in each one has performed the test. One group used the HMD VR headset Oculus Rift DK2 and the other one used a traditional 2D monitor. Mouse and keyboard was used for controls. A data logging ran in the background of every test and collected information on the players positional and rotational data. The data was analysed and then compared between the two groups.   In conclusion, there is no strong difference between the two groups. The biggest difference was in how much ground the players covered. The group who played in VR didn’t walk around and explored as much and instead was more stationary. But they were around 5 seconds faster in average. The group who played without VR looked up and down a bit more but the difference was never more than just 5 degrees.