Combat arms units (both Marine and Army) often do not have enough people, time and resources to properly train collective tasks at the squad level. Resources are often retained by higher headquarters due to tight deployment schedules, land restrictions, logistics constraints and a myriad of other reasons. Due to the current operational demands of combat arms brigades and regiments, the reality of limited resources is often a contributing factor in poor performance at the squad level. Leaders at all levels will need to look for innovative ways to sustain training levels at the small unit level. The scope of this study examined the collective and leader tasks that are required for successful execution of Infantry squad missions (using the Army Training and Evaluation Plan ARTEP 7-8 Drill), and how those tasks could be trained with the use of commercial off-the-shelf multiplayer gaming software. The end-state of this research study is to provide initial analysis on what collective skills games can be used to train at the Infantry squad level, and develop a training model recommendation for the integration of this tool into existing unit plans.

The aim of the dissertation is to understand the playing of computer games based on its own conditions, and questions are asked such as what is the meaning constructed around playing and themselves as players, what is the social construction of playing and how can playing computer games be understood from the perspective of youth culture? A basic interest in the thesis is to contribute to the understanding of Bildung in an informal context outside the institutions, activities and genres that traditionally stand for Bildung. The empirical investigation that forms the basis of this thesis i in the form of presence at various LANs and interviews with players. The research perspective includes a hermeneutic point of departure and playing computer games is interpreted and understood from three perspectives: playing computer games as a meaning of Bildung (play and mimesis), as social meaning (friendship and community) and as cultural (style). The results demonstrates that playing computer games is something the player does to relax, to have fun and it makes the time that passes meaningful. For dedicated players, playing computer games is a longing for community. To be a member of a community provides the opportunity to become someone in relation to the others. To participate in the community of players is a way to achieve understanding about how one is expected to behave in a larger community, that is to say society. The players are not much interested in clothes and fashion. Alcohol and other drugs are disapproved. Not stealing from others in the LAN, helping each other and sharing both knowledge and material things are also ways of expressing style. Playing computergames is Bildung and the experiences and insights wich playing can provide should have a place in a vision regarding Bildung in our time. The teachers and the school should make use of the free-time experiences that young people take with them to school.

As video games continue to become larger, more complex, and more costly to produce, research into methods to make game creation easier and faster becomes more valuable. One such research topic is procedural generation, which allows the computer to assist in the creation of content. This dissertation presents a new algorithm for the generation of Sokoban levels. Sokoban is a grid-based transport puzzle which is computational interesting due to being PSPACE-complete. Beyond just generating levels, the question of whether or not the levels created by this algorithm are interesting to human players is explored. A study was carried out comparing player attention while playing hand made levels versus their attention during procedurally generated levels. An auditory Stroop test was used to measure attention without disrupting play.

Genetic algorithm and artificial life techniques are applied to the development of challenging and interesting opponents in a combat-based computer game. Computer simulations are carried out against an idealized human player to gather data on the effectiveness of the computer generated opponents.

Video game players demand a volume of content far in excess of the ability of game designers to create it. For example, a single quest might take a week to develop and test, which means that companies such as Blizzard are spending millions of dollars each month on new content for their games. As a result, both players and developers are frustrated with the inability to meet the demand for new content. By generating content on-demand, it is possible to create custom content for each player based on player preferences. It is also possible to make use of the current world state during generation, something which cannot be done with current techniques. Using developers to create rules and assets for a content generator instead of creating content directly will lower development costs as well as reduce the development time for new game content to seconds rather than days. This work is part of the field of computational creativity, and involves the use of computers to create aesthetically pleasing game content, such as terrain, characters, and quests. I demonstrate agent-based terrain generation, and economic modeling of game spaces. I also demonstrate the autonomous generation of quests for online role playing games, and the ability to play these quests using an emulated Everquest server.

The present diploma work describes the early development of digital narrative on the territory of the former Czechoslovakia in the 80's and at the beginning of the 90's of the 20th century. In that period, the text adventure game production and use were influenced by the socio-cultural and economic environment in the east-European Communist bloc, and by its following transformation into a democratic system with market economy. That brought about unique approaches to the computer game development and playing, and it also led to a formation of a cultural phenomenon of digital text games connected with the context of that time. The text deals with a brief historic development of digital game playing in the world, and a general situation in the information technologies on the territory of the former Czechoslovakia including direct participants' selected opinions. Within the framework of the present work, basic theoretical approaches have been presented, examining the adventure games genre, and especially their narrative part and the principles of intertextuality. The latter have been described using the examples of the respective Czechoslovak game production.

Main purpose of this thesis is to pursue the question whether it is possible to find differences (and if so, which) in attitudes towards computer (or rather digital) games resulting from various family socio-cultural backgrounds and gender. In order to explore this, the thesis analyzes selected gaming behaviors along with the socio-cultural environment and gender stereotypes shaping the gamers. The research study focuses mainly on gamers' preference in choosing the game type, reflection of their approach and ways of dealing with this phenomenon exhibited by their parents. This thesis does not aim to state any general theory; it is rather attempting to offer specific insight into this issue. Keywords: digital games, computer games, games' classification, computer games entertainment, parental attitudes towards gaming, family socio-cultural standard, gender stereotypes, computer games usefulness/ harmfulness in its consumers, virtual communication in computer games.

This thesis is focused on ethical aspects of interaction between players and virtual computer game worlds, specifically on reception of situations where player faces possibility or necessity to make a moral choice that influences the future development of the game. The goal of this thesis is to find out how seriously players approach these decisions, whether they take their impact on the game world into account, what criteria they apply when deciding and what other influences affect their decisions. Another related theme is identification with the game avatar and its influence on moral decisions. This work is based on qualitative research realized with a group of five players of computer game Mass Effect 2. During the research they answered questions regarding their decisions in particular situations as well as their general approach to decisions in the game. The research is based on recent works on the related topics of game studies. Outcomes of the research are analysed by the grounded theory method. Using its procedures the answers are decomposed into basic concepts which are then put together again in mutual context. As a conclusion of the thesis the grounded theory formulated based on these analytical procedures is presented. Future thematically related research areas are also suggested.

Thesis (M.Mus.)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Humanities, School of Music, 2012 / This exploratory research project investigated the multifarious effects of incorporating computer music software in the form of a computer game into beginner piano lessons. The design and implementation of an animated computer game, designed by the researcher for the purpose of the study was used to assist young beginner pianists master the layout of the piano keyboard in relation to a score with basic music notation. A detailed description of the game is included. Contributing elements central to knowing, understanding and applying the layout of the piano keyboard when sight-reading were also investigated. A pilot study which formed the basis and point of departure for the study is discussed in detail; the findings of which conclude the report. The results of a case study conducted on two control and experiment groups aged three to six, which involved the use of the specially designed computer game to teach beginner piano students the keyboard layout and introductory notation in the form of an interactive story, is recorded. Through narrative enquiry, a series of interviews with world renowned pianists and piano teachers on the value and importance of sight-reading is expounded. The researcher’s personal reflections on the entire project as well as her own personal philosophy with regard to basic piano tuition, the continued enculturation and propagation of new beginners and sight-teaching are included

Studien syftar på att belysa hur dataspel påverkar unga vuxna mäns beteende samt vilka för-och nackdelar det har på hälsan. Det kommer oftast upp negativa reaktioner på dataspel och dess effekter på hälsan. Forskning visar att våldsamma spel påverkar beteendet negativt och att det leder till ett aggressivt beteende. Det är sällan positiva aspekter som tas upp i studier av dataspel och mindre forskning om unga vuxna mäns upplevelser av dataspel. Målinriktat urval valdes i studien då sex unga vuxna män från Västerås ansågs vara relevant som målgrupp för att ta reda på för- och nackdelar med dataspel samt hur de upplever påverkar deras hälsa. Studien grundar sig på en kvalitativ metod där datainsamlingen skedde genom semistrukturerade intervjuer som utformning. Intervjuerna analyserades genom en manifest innehållsanalys. Resultatet visar på att utredarna upplevde att dataspel har både negativa och positiva konsekvenser beroende på varför man spelar. Dataspel enligt utredarna i studien är avkopplande och lugnande men det kan påverka kroppen kortsiktigt. Slutsatserna är att dataspel påverkar unga vuxna män mer positivt än negativt när det gäller psykosociala faktorer men mindre positivt för fysiska konsekvenser. Detta beror på att vuxna har mer kontroll och mera kunskaper för att balansera både det dagliga livet och sin hälsa. / The study aims to demonstrate how computer games affect young men adults behaviour and the pros and cons of health. There are usually negative reactions to computer games from others and its effects on health. Research shows that violent games adversely affect behaviour and it is believed that it can lead to aggressive behaviour. There are rarely any positive aspects addressed in studies of computer games and less research on young adult men's experiences of computer games. Targeted selection was chosen in the study as six young adult men from Västerås were considered relevant as a target group to find out the pros and cons of computer games and how they experience their health being affected. The study is based on a qualitative method in which the data collection took place through semi-structured interviews as a design. The interviews were analysed through a manifest content analysis. The result shows that the investigators experienced that computer games have both negative and positive consequences depending on the reason they play. Computer games according to the investigators in the study are shown to be relaxing and calming but however, can affect the body in the short term. The conclusions is that computer games affect young men more positively than negatively when it comes to psychosocial factors but less positive for physical consequences and outcomes. This is because adults have more control and more knowledge to balance both daily life and their health.