Lightning Bugs & Spectacle Cleaning

Lightning Bugs & Lightning Bugs & Spectacle Cleaning:Spectacle Cleaning:

Language Barriers in Serious Language Barriers in Serious Game DesignGame Design

Katrin Becker, PhD

© Dr. K.Becker CNIE 2008 Lightening Bugs & Spectacle Cleaning 2

Step 1:Step 1:

HUH?HUH?

Defn: Defn: SERIOUS GAMESSERIOUS GAMES

Digital Games created for purposes Digital Games created for purposes other than pure entertainment.other than pure entertainment.



Step 2: about that title...Step 2: about that title...

The difference between the right word and

almost the right word is the difference between

lightning and

lightning bug.

Mark Twain


Step 3:Step 3:The fundamental thing about human languages The fundamental thing about human languages

is that they can and should be used to is that they can and should be used to describe something; and this something is, describe something; and this something is, somehow, the world. To be constantly and somehow, the world. To be constantly and almost exclusively interested in the medium – almost exclusively interested in the medium – in spectacle-cleaning – is a result of a in spectacle-cleaning – is a result of a philosophical mistake.philosophical mistake.

Sir Karl Popper


What does this have to do with us?What does this have to do with us?

1.1. Games are hot.Games are hot.

2.2. Games for Education is Games for Education is now.now.

3.3. Game design is interdisciplinary.Game design is interdisciplinary.

4.4. Definitions are important.Definitions are important.

5.5. My definitions are different from yours.My definitions are different from yours.

6.6. Communication fails if we mean Communication fails if we mean different things while we use the same different things while we use the same words.words.


Games are hot.Games are hot.


Games for Education is Games for Education is now.now.Square-Enix has joined with a leading Japanese Square-Enix has joined with a leading Japanese

textbook publisher to make teaching games, textbook publisher to make teaching games, EA has licensed the EA has licensed the MaddenMadden franchise to a franchise to a

coaching software company, coaching software company, Konami has partnered with West Virginia to rollout Konami has partnered with West Virginia to rollout

a DDR-based exercise program. a DDR-based exercise program. It's not a very big leap to say every major It's not a very big leap to say every major

development shop will have at least one serious development shop will have at least one serious game under its belt in the near future. game under its belt in the near future.

Ben Sawyer

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_121/2575-Ten-Myths-About-Serious-Games


Educators, Instructional Designers, Game Educators, Instructional Designers, Game Designers, Level Designers, Artists, Designers, Level Designers, Artists, Musicians, Writers, Actors, ...Musicians, Writers, Actors, ...

Each affinity group has its own terminology:Each affinity group has its own terminology:– Game vs SimulationGame vs Simulation

Game design is interdisciplinary.Game design is interdisciplinary.


Whorf-Sapir and Game Design‘‘Language shapes the way Language shapes the way

we think, and determines we think, and determines what we can think what we can think about.’ ... ‘We dissect about.’ ... ‘We dissect nature along lines laid nature along lines laid down by our native down by our native language. Language is language. Language is not simply a reporting not simply a reporting device for experience but device for experience but a defining framework for a defining framework for it.’ it.’ ~ Benjamin Whorf


Definitions are Definitions are important.important.

"We cannot define anything "We cannot define anything precisely! If we attempt to, precisely! If we attempt to, we get into that paralysis of we get into that paralysis of thought that comes to thought that comes to philosophers, who sit philosophers, who sit opposite each other, one opposite each other, one saying to the other, saying to the other,

Richard Feynman (1963)Richard Feynman (1963)

'You don't know what you are talking 'You don't know what you are talking about!' The second one says 'What about!' The second one says 'What do you mean by know? What do you do you mean by know? What do you mean by talking? What do you mean mean by talking? What do you mean by you?', and so on." by you?', and so on."


What is a game?What is a game?

ALL GAMES ARE SIMULATIONS

A digital GAME is a real-time system that takes input from user (through peripheral device) which controls a simulation including graphical and

audio displays.


Digital games require:Digital games require:• input systems, input systems, • networking systemsnetworking systems (possible) Network interfaces (possible) Network interfaces, , • real-time systems, real-time systems, • rendering engines, rendering engines, • display systems, display systems, • sound systems, sound systems, • artificial intelligence engines, artificial intelligence engines, • asset managers( lasset managers( large amounts of multimedia data)arge amounts of multimedia data), , • physics engines, physics engines, • front end (which is the only part the user gets to see)front end (which is the only part the user gets to see)


It’s All in How You Look at

ThingsNorton Juster, p.107-108, “The Phantom Toll Booth”Norton Juster, p.107-108, “The Phantom Toll Booth”

For instance, from here that looks like a bucket of water,” he said pointing to

a bucket of water; “but from an ant’s point of view it’s a vast ocean, from an

elephant’s just a cool drink, and to a fish, of

course, it’s home. So, you see, the way you see

things depends a great deal on where you look at

them from. Now, come along and I’ll show you the rest of the forest.”

“Of course not,” replied Alec, sitting himself down on nothing. “It’s only mine, and you certainly can’t always look at things from someone else’s Point of View.

All Images © Jules Feiffer

“Everyone should have his own point of view.” said Alec.

“Isn’t this everyone’s Point of View?” asked Tock, looking around curiously.


Simulation vs GameSimulation vs Game

You can know the name of a bird in all You can know the name of a bird in all the languages of the world, but the languages of the world, but when you're finished, you'll know when you're finished, you'll know absolutely nothing whatever about absolutely nothing whatever about the bird... So let's look at the bird the bird... So let's look at the bird and see what it's doing -- that's and see what it's doing -- that's what counts. I learned very early the what counts. I learned very early the difference between knowing the difference between knowing the name of something and knowing name of something and knowing something.something.

~ Richard Feynman~ Richard Feynman


My definitions are different from yours.My definitions are different from yours.

Simulation is an implementation of a model: which could be a mathematical construct that bounds the possible properties and activities of the hypothetical objects being described.

Which need not be restricted by the bounds of the known universe – but which still must have integral consistency.


Simulations vs. Games Simulations vs. Games according to according to Gredler (AECT), Alessi & TrollipGredler (AECT), Alessi & Trollip

Simulation =Must be complex & REAL (referred to as fidelity

or validity)Participants have defined rolesData-rich environment, where students can

execute range of strategiesFeedback is in form of changes to situation

Realism is essential to effective learning.Learning the model is educational objective.Understanding the model is the goal.

Alessi, S. M., & Trollip, S. R. (2001). Multimedia for learning : methods and development (3rd ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

Gredler, M. E. (2004). Games and Simulations and Their Relationships to Learning. In D. H. Jonassen (Ed.), Handbook of research on educational communications and technology (2nd ed.). Mahwah, N.J.: Association for Educational Communications and Technology., Lawrence Erlbaum.


Games vs. SimulationsGames vs. Simulationsaccording toaccording to Gredler (AECT),Gredler (AECT), Alessi & TrollipAlessi & Trollip

Game = Game = Games rarely played differently from the way they were intended.Games rarely played differently from the way they were intended.Winning will take precedence over experimentingWinning will take precedence over experimentingGames are less efficient learning models than other methodologiesGames are less efficient learning models than other methodologiesEducators have negative beliefs about gamesEducators have negative beliefs about games

Educational Game =Educational Game =Learning embedded in game, not part of itLearning embedded in game, not part of itHas rules, winning is important Has rules, winning is important Winning should not have random factor for EdWinning should not have random factor for EdNo distracting bells and whistlesNo distracting bells and whistlesInclude directions in bookletsInclude directions in bookletsStudents shouldn’t loose points when wrongStudents shouldn’t loose points when wrong


Communication fails if we mean different Communication fails if we mean different things while using the same words.things while using the same words.

TerminologyA

ttri

bu

tes

Same DifferentS

am

eD

iffere

nt

Consensus

Experts use terminology and concepts in the

same way

Correspondence

Experts use different

terminology for the same conceptsConflict

Experts use same

terminology for different concepts.

Contrast

Experts use different

terminology and different concepts

Shaw, M.L.G. & Gaines, B. (1989)

Comparing

Conceptual

Structures


Language is by its very nature a Language is by its very nature a communal thing; that is, it communal thing; that is, it expresses never the exact thing expresses never the exact thing but a compromise - that which is but a compromise - that which is common to you, me, and common to you, me, and everybody. everybody.

~Thomas Earnest Hulme, Speculations, 1923


The biggest problem with The biggest problem with communication is the illusion communication is the illusion

that it has been accomplished.that it has been accomplished.

George Bernard ShawGeorge Bernard Shaw


Suggestions:Suggestions:• minimize discipline-specific jargonminimize discipline-specific jargon• explain terminology as you understand it and qualify explain terminology as you understand it and qualify

statementsstatements– justifications based on logic help to clarify perspectives but justifications based on logic help to clarify perspectives but

avoid value judgments about the correctness of one view avoid value judgments about the correctness of one view over anotherover another

• refrain from politicsrefrain from politics– unless of course the game being developed is a political oneunless of course the game being developed is a political one

• avoid assumptions about shared worldviews and avoid assumptions about shared worldviews and remain in the concreteremain in the concrete

• do not expect to create converts to your perspective do not expect to create converts to your perspective – focus on the shared goal of the project. – focus on the shared goal of the project.

Sengers, P., How-To Tips for Interdisciplinary Communication. in Society for Literature and Science, 1996, (Atlanta, Georgia, 1996).


We need to develop a common language, We need to develop a common language, to be sure, but it would be discouraging to be sure, but it would be discouraging to see multidisciplinary synergism turn to see multidisciplinary synergism turn into yet another monolithic discipline into yet another monolithic discipline where membership hinges on where membership hinges on adherence to dogma.adherence to dogma.


Thanks!Thanks!