With the development of media technology and game evolution, games are endowed with multiple purposes and functions. Some scholars believe that the game is the supplement of the real world, which can affect the players' psychology and behaviour. Numerous studies show that games can make players accept challenges, overcome obstacles, arouse positive emotions and solve problems. Therefore, academia's research on games and related topics in learning has become increasingly popular. In response, different models have emerged to evaluate the design of active educational games.This research discusses how different game mechanisms affect players. Also, this study used a prototype game as output media to examine the impact of various game mechanisms on learning. The purpose of this study is to explore how to choose a more suitable game mechanism in the design of educational games. The research results include that some game mechanisms promote learning motivation and improve learning outcomes. At the same time, some game mechanisms have the risk of reducing learning motivation. Through these findings, the researcher of this study believes that educational games can bring positive influence and help to players' learning. However, how to choose a suitable game mechanism in the design of educational games is worthy of serious consideration for making design decisions.

This project included the development of a multi-user game that takes place in a 3 dimensional world of the computer science department. Basically, the game allows prospective students to meet existing students and faculty in a virtual open house that takes place within the third floor of Jack Brown Hall. Users can walk around Jack Brown Hall and type text messages to chat with each other.

The process of reading a modernist poem is just as much a process of deconstructing it: the language is designed to make meaning through inefficient means, like the aforementioned fragmentation and assemblage. The reader must decode the text. This is what I want to extract as a point of entry to my videogame analysis. The process of reading is not unlike the process of playing. Instead of linguistic structures, a player must navigate a game‟s internal rule system. The pleasure for both the reader and player comes from decoding the poem and game, respectively. I am not making claims that relationships between modernist poetry and videogames are inherent or innate. Similarly, I am not providing a framework to apply one medium to the other. Instead I want to investigate how each medium uses its affordances to take advantage of its potential for creative expression. I do not consider poetry or literature to be superior to videogames, nor am I invoking the argument that videogames should imitate earlier media. My goal is to compare specific modernist poems and videogames to see how each medium makes meaning through its respective processes.

This thesis responds to the specific educational and social needs of gifted children within the context of online applications. Online enrichment activities and social opportunities are only successful if they are able to attract and sustain attention of the advanced interests of gifted children. The aim of the research is to design an online application that appeals to gifted children and recognises the identified intellectual and social needs within the New Zealand context. This was achieved through research through design by establishing a design strategy that uses the findings of investigations and applies them to a prototype application. Developers of online content for gifted children may benefit from this research. As an initial investigation a survey was conducted about how gifted New Zealand primary school children are using online applications. It was assumed following the literature review that online applications would appeal to gifted children if they teach a new skill, have multiplayer functionality and address higher order thinking skills. Basic design characteristics of the most popular gaming websites amongst gifted children (from the survey) were then used to inform the design strategy and to develop the prototype online application typozilla. Key findings were retrieved through observation of gifted children using typozilla. The majority of children observed were especially enthusiastic seeing other players’ avatars within multiplayer areas and competing against each other. They enjoyed learning a new skill (which was touch-typing) and engaging in creative tasks. In interviews all gifted children confirmed that they perceived the typozilla design as appealing.

This thesis responds to the specific educational and social needs of gifted children within the context of online applications. Online enrichment activities and social opportunities are only successful if they are able to attract and sustain attention of the advanced interests of gifted children. The aim of the research is to design an online application that appeals to gifted children and recognises the identified intellectual and social needs within the New Zealand context. This was achieved through research through design by establishing a design strategy that uses the findings of investigations and applies them to a prototype application. Developers of online content for gifted children may benefit from this research. As an initial investigation a survey was conducted about how gifted New Zealand primary school children are using online applications. It was assumed following the literature review that online applications would appeal to gifted children if they teach a new skill, have multiplayer functionality and address higher order thinking skills. Basic design characteristics of the most popular gaming websites amongst gifted children (from the survey) were then used to inform the design strategy and to develop the prototype online application typozilla. Key findings were retrieved through observation of gifted children using typozilla. The majority of children observed were especially enthusiastic seeing other players’ avatars within multiplayer areas and competing against each other. They enjoyed learning a new skill (which was touch-typing) and engaging in creative tasks. In interviews all gifted children confirmed that they perceived the typozilla design as appealing.

This thesis responds to the specific educational and social needs of gifted children within the context of online applications. Online enrichment activities and social opportunities are only successful if they are able to attract and sustain attention of the advanced interests of gifted children. The aim of the research is to design an online application that appeals to gifted children and recognises the identified intellectual and social needs within the New Zealand context. This was achieved through research through design by establishing a design strategy that uses the findings of investigations and applies them to a prototype application. Developers of online content for gifted children may benefit from this research. As an initial investigation a survey was conducted about how gifted New Zealand primary school children are using online applications. It was assumed following the literature review that online applications would appeal to gifted children if they teach a new skill, have multiplayer functionality and address higher order thinking skills. Basic design characteristics of the most popular gaming websites amongst gifted children (from the survey) were then used to inform the design strategy and to develop the prototype online application typozilla. Key findings were retrieved through observation of gifted children using typozilla. The majority of children observed were especially enthusiastic seeing other players’ avatars within multiplayer areas and competing against each other. They enjoyed learning a new skill (which was touch-typing) and engaging in creative tasks. In interviews all gifted children confirmed that they perceived the typozilla design as appealing.

This thesis responds to the specific educational and social needs of gifted children within the context of online applications. Online enrichment activities and social opportunities are only successful if they are able to attract and sustain attention of the advanced interests of gifted children. The aim of the research is to design an online application that appeals to gifted children and recognises the identified intellectual and social needs within the New Zealand context. This was achieved through research through design by establishing a design strategy that uses the findings of investigations and applies them to a prototype application. Developers of online content for gifted children may benefit from this research. As an initial investigation a survey was conducted about how gifted New Zealand primary school children are using online applications. It was assumed following the literature review that online applications would appeal to gifted children if they teach a new skill, have multiplayer functionality and address higher order thinking skills. Basic design characteristics of the most popular gaming websites amongst gifted children (from the survey) were then used to inform the design strategy and to develop the prototype online application typozilla. Key findings were retrieved through observation of gifted children using typozilla. The majority of children observed were especially enthusiastic seeing other players’ avatars within multiplayer areas and competing against each other. They enjoyed learning a new skill (which was touch-typing) and engaging in creative tasks. In interviews all gifted children confirmed that they perceived the typozilla design as appealing.

This thesis responds to the specific educational and social needs of gifted children within the context of online applications. Online enrichment activities and social opportunities are only successful if they are able to attract and sustain attention of the advanced interests of gifted children. The aim of the research is to design an online application that appeals to gifted children and recognises the identified intellectual and social needs within the New Zealand context. This was achieved through research through design by establishing a design strategy that uses the findings of investigations and applies them to a prototype application. Developers of online content for gifted children may benefit from this research. As an initial investigation a survey was conducted about how gifted New Zealand primary school children are using online applications. It was assumed following the literature review that online applications would appeal to gifted children if they teach a new skill, have multiplayer functionality and address higher order thinking skills. Basic design characteristics of the most popular gaming websites amongst gifted children (from the survey) were then used to inform the design strategy and to develop the prototype online application typozilla. Key findings were retrieved through observation of gifted children using typozilla. The majority of children observed were especially enthusiastic seeing other players’ avatars within multiplayer areas and competing against each other. They enjoyed learning a new skill (which was touch-typing) and engaging in creative tasks. In interviews all gifted children confirmed that they perceived the typozilla design as appealing.

Via the use of applied games design methodologies, based on analytical grounding, this paper examines the possibility of developing a new type of Policy Game, Wicked Games, as Participatory Design method for use when working with multiple stakeholders on Critical, Crucial, Complex and Wicked Problems (Rittel & Webber 1973). This paper approaches this topic from a Games Design Research perspective, to shed new light on the qualities of medium for participatory designers. This paper provides a definition of, design heuristics for, and an example of a Wicked Game as a starting point for further work within the topic, as well as providing an analysis of a Formal Analysis as a methodology for extracting tacit knowledge from games, Distributed Playtests as a means for gathering information to allow rapid iteration within games design.

[pt] A narrativa é um elemento essencial para o ser humano. Narrar eventos e registrar fatos é uma forma de garantir sentido à existência do indivíduo. O jogo eletrônico, por sua vez, é uma mídia que tem causado ampla repercussão nos últimos anos. O panorama dos jogos demonstra que a partir de seus feitos econômicos, essa modalidade de obra digital gradualmente se consolidou como um elemento de expressão e cultura contemporânea. Em razão de seus gêneros, os jogos assumem diferentes formas e proporcionam variadas mecânicas de interação para engajar seus jogadores. Uma destas formas ocorre por meio da história do jogo. Por este motivo, ao longo do tempo, determinados jogos se tornaram marcos em razão de suas narrativas. Surge, portanto, a indagação: O que exatamente é a narrativa de um jogo? Como é criada e transmitida? Por que é elogiada por jogadores? Por fim, como potencializar a experiência de uso nos jogos eletrônicos a partir de sua narrativa? Para investigar estas questões, a pesquisa adotou como objetivo analisar a relação entre narrativa (em sua concepção geral) e a mídia do jogo. Para tanto, com base principalmente nos conceitos de Bomfim, Salen e Zimmerman, Bakhtin e Ricoeur, define-se o que é Design, Jogo, Gênero e Narrativa com vistas à conexão entre estes temas no âmbito do design de jogos eletrônicos. Em seguida, são apresentados os resultados de uma pesquisa de campo realizada com jogadores e analisados aqueles destacados pelos entrevistados por conta de suas narrativas. Ao final, é promovida uma reflexão acerca da relação design de jogos e design de narrativa. Conclui-se que a narrativa abrange uma definição particular dentro da mídia dos jogos e que é possível potencializar a experiência de uso nos jogos eletrônicos por meio do encadeamento entre a história e as mecânicas de participação do jogo. / [en] Narrative is an essential element of human life. Narrating events and recording facts are ways of ensuring meaning to the existence of any individual. Electronic games, in turn, are a medium that has caused widespread repercussion in recent years. The gaming landscape became widely known due to its economic achievements, but gradually, games established themselves as a digital representation of expression and contemporary culture. Because of their genres, games take different forms and provide varied interaction mechanics that engage their players. One of these possibilities is through the game’s story. Therefore, throughout the years, some of them became landmarks because of their narratives. In light of this scenario, certain questions arise: What exactly is a game’s narrative? How is it created and transmitted? Why is it praised by players? Finally, how is it possible to leverage the experience of electronic games from a narrative perspective? To investigate these issues, this research chose to analyze the relationship between narrative (in its overall definition) and the game medium. Based primarily on the studies of Bomfim, Salen and Zimmerman, Bakhtin, and Ricoeur, the theoretical foundation of this work proposes definitions for Design, Game, Genre, and Narrative, as well as their connections to the topic of game design. In sequence, the results of a research conducted with players reveals their views regarding narrative and which games stand out. Lastly, in order to connect all concepts discussed, the work reflects on the relationship between game design and narrative design. The conclusion is that narrative dons a unique definition within the game medium and the interweaving of game mechanics and game story is especially apt at enhancing the player experience.