SERIOUS GAMES MARKET

Serious Games Helping Children To Cope With Stress

2012-05-07T13:54:00.000-03:00

Serious Games providing children mechanisms for coping with emotional concerns in their own lives

Via: Numedeon, Inc – Whyville Launches Innovative Avatar Based Education Program To Help Children Cope With Stress

Working in collaboration with the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology Numedeon (please find also Whyville: Serious Games Inspiring Children’s Fashion) last week launched an innovative new avatar -based effort to provide children mechanisms for coping with emotional concerns in their own lives.

Designed to introduce coping skills and techniques to children, a simulated avatar wanders into Whyville chat rooms and profess to be upset. Whyvillians in the chat rooms select question envelopes and then work together to figure out what is wrong, subsequently picking advice envelopes to offer to the avatar in distress. When sufficient appropriate advice has been offered, the avatar is no longer distressed and Whyvillians are rewarded with a "clam storm", in which Whyville’s virtual currency rains from the sky.

In the few days since launch, more than 10,000 children have opened more than 100,000 question envelopes in an effort to better understand the emotional malady of the wandering avatar. Numedeon intends to expand this project to additional forms of emotional challenges for children.

SimTecT 2012: Serious Games Showcase & Challenge Goes Global

2012-04-26T18:41:00.000-03:00

I/ITSEC-SGS&C encouraging additional Serious Game contests worldwide

Via: SimTecT 2012 – SimTecT Serious Games Showcase & Challenge – Australia & New Zealand

The Serious Games Showcase & Challenge held annually at I/ITSEC is now in its 7th edition and the quantity and quality of the entered Serious Games have both risen significantly over the years.

Seeing more and more Serious Game development in the international market, SGS&C organizers have decided to encourage this trend while also increasing their exposure to the US market. Accordingly, SGS&C as of 2012 is encouraging additional Serious Game contests at key conferences across the globe, and offering their winners a guaranteed spot as a finalist within the SGS&C.

The International Serious Games Showcase & Challenge inaugural event will take place in Australia & New Zealand at the upcoming SimTecT 2012.

Dates

01/05/2012 - Finalists will be notified via e-mail

20/06/2012 - 2012 Contest Awards at SimTecT

The SimTecT Challenge

A regional first, the purpose of the SimTecT Serious Games Showcase & Challenge – Australia and New Zealand is to promote Australia and New Zealand’s considerable and innovative development talent, and represent interactive Serious Game solutions nationally and internationally. SimTecT 2012 will be the first time that this competition has been run outside of the annual I/ITSEC Serious Games Showcase & Challenge event with links directly to that event.

This is a fantastic opportunity for national and international exposure, with the Grand Prize winning entries automatically be awarded a place at the Serious Games Showcase & Challenge Competition held at I/ITSEC, Orlando in December 2012.

All entries will be judged by representatives in leading gaming, academic and industry companies in three primary areas:

· Solution to a Stated Problem

· Technical Quality

· Playability/Usability

Innovativeness: Higher scores can be achieved in each of the evaluation areas based on innovative approaches within those areas.

Mobile: For games in the mobile platform game development category, they will be further evaluated on how well the game objectives translate to and utilize a mobile or handheld platform.

The Evaluating Committee will select one winner each from the Student, PC and Mobile categories. Winning games will be announced and recognized at the SimTecT Dinner on 20 June (see http://www.simtect.com for conference schedule).

The SimTecT Serious Games Showcase & Challenge – Australia and New Zealand is hosted by Simulation Australia and the Serious Games Consultancy in connection with SimTecT at the Adelaide Convention Centre in Adelaide, South Australia.

Simulation Australia Background

In 1994 the Defense Science and Technology Organization (DSTO) collaborated with industry and academic representatives on a Co-operative Research Centre (CRC) proposal for simulation-related research and development. While that proposal was not funded, project participants were enthused and decided to form an association, led by industry, to further the use and development of simulation in Australia. DSTO also hoped that such an association would manage a newly established annual simulation conference.

In 1996, after planning and negotiation, the Simulation Industry Association of Australia (SIAA) was formed. Its primary goal was to conduct an annual conference, which it did so. SimTecT is held in May/June each year. SIAA had a mission of advancing the research, development, and use of simulation technologies and practices in Australian industry, academia, and government. As SimTecT grew in size and interest in, and awareness of, simulation also expanded, and it became evident that being an ‘industry’ association was a limiting factor on growth and potential.

The Board undertook an extensive review of operations and future possibilities and in 2010 SIAA became Simulation Australia whose vision is to be the National Peak body for the simulation community in Australia, with the purpose of increasing the use of simulation in achieving organizational goals.

Whyville: Serious Games Inspiring Children’s Fashion

2012-04-16T13:12:00.001-03:00

Serious Games Set to Influence Children’s Fashion Worldwide

Via: Numedeon, Inc – Numedeon Inc. and Topsville Inc. Announce Whyville‐branded Line of T‐shirts Inspired by Children’s Own Avatar Designs

User Generated Content in Virtual World Set to Influence Children’s Fashion Worldwide

Numedeon, Inc., the parent company of Whyville.net, and Topsville Inc, a division of the major clothing manufacturer Jaclyn Inc, announced earlier this month the launch of a new line of children’s clothing inspired by avatars designed by the participants of Whyville.net, the premiere virtual world for learning (please find also Whyville Game Design Contest: Serious Gaming With Game Design and New Report: Scientific Accuracy In Serious Games Stimulates Scientific Inquiry)

“13 years ago, Whyville.net pioneered the concept of User Generated Content (UGC), when we built tools for our young users to design face parts and construct avatars”, explained Dr. James Bower, one of Whyville’s founders and CEO of Numedeon Inc. “As a result, millions of children have developed literally millions of face parts reflecting an enormous range of looks and styles”.

“As one of the largest manufacturers of children’s clothing in the US, we spend considerable effort each year anticipating the fashions kids want,” says Mark Nitzberg, CEO of Topsville Inc. “In Whyville they create what they want.”

While many virtual worlds and online games have focused on the sale of virtual goods of little use in the real world, Numedeon and Topsville have partnered to blend virtual and real world experience by translating the excitement and creativity of children in virtual worlds into real world products. The first line of product is a series of T‐shirts that feature Whyville‐style avatars inspired by the designs of Whyville’s participants. Reciprocally, by scanning a QR code on the real world Whyville T‐shirts, children can wear the avatar featured on the T‐shirt back in Whyville.

“The creative energy of the citizens of Whyville never ceases to amaze us,” says Dr. Jennifer Sun, Numedeon’s President and Managing Director of Whyville. “We designed these T‐shirts with Topsville as a tribute to their creativity and imagination.”

The “WhyTops” line of clothing is available online at Whyville.net and in real world retail outlets including select Peebles department stores.

About Whyville

Whyville is the premiere educational virtual world for children, embedding simulation‐based learning in an engaging and safe collaborative gaming environment. For thirteen years, the site has successfully created an environment that engages its "citizens" to learn about life, while having fun. In Whyville, kids play, socialize, compete, learn, design, eat, dance, govern and much more. Numedeon Inc., the parent company of Whyville, was founded by scientists from the California Institute of Technology who combined research expertise in learning and education with advanced simulation and virtual world technology to harness the power of the Internet to engage young learners. At greater than 30 minutes per log in, Whyville is one of the stickiest and most engaging of all virtual worlds (ComScore Media Metrics) and recently surpassed more than 7.5 million registered accounts. A testament to Whyville’s dedication to education and safety, the site has won numerous media and parent awards, including a Gold Award for the National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA).

About Topsville

New York based Topsville offers retailers a breath of children’s fashions that extends to all product categories, moving beyond its private label expertise into Branded and Licensed collections. They develop children’s wear for newborn through girls 7‐16 and for boys, new born through 8‐20 size ranges. With over 35 year’s experience, Topsville prides itself with being a leader in manufacturing and design of children’s apparel. Topsville is a division of Jaclyn Incorporated.

Simbound: New Serious Game For Digital Marketing Practice

2012-04-13T11:28:00.000-03:00

Serious Games to experience an online marketing campaign in a risk‑free environment

Via: Simbound – The Digital Marketing Serious Game

Simbound, a Serious Game for digital marketing practice, is nearing the final pre‑beta testing stages.

Simbound is structured as a bidirectional web marketing learning system, with 2 account types: one for professors and one for students. Learners will experience a real online marketing campaign in a risk‑free environment whilst teachers will be able to monitor progress and evaluate marketing decisions in real time.

Here is an Interview with Louis Havriliuc, Simbound Founder:

SGM: What is Simbound?

Louis Havriliuc: Simbound is a Serious Game that allows the practice of digital marketing skills. By using a complex model and real-world search data, learners can practice and better understand Search Engine Marketing.

The storyline is built around a regional insurance office that has started to promote its services using Baigoo – a fictitious search engine. The novelty lies in the fact that it takes place in a no-risk, zero cost environment whereas with existing commercial solutions you cannot try out different strategies without spending real funds or risking brand reputation.

The learning outcome includes understanding of online marketing dynamics and industry metrics. Students get in the habit of applying processes essential to launching and optimizing a full online marketing campaign. This, I believe is the future of relevant marketing education.

SGM: Who can benefit from the game?

Louis Havriliuc: Anybody interested in learning more about how to promote their venture online. University students, Digital Marketing Agencies, Recruitment Agencies and other business simulation providers will be part of this growing framework. As online marketing becomes more competitive, managers and other decision makers will have to know which performance metrics to track while understanding the main drivers for efficient online marketing campaigns. We hope to open up new avenues for relevant e-marketing education for students and professors alike.

SGM: What are some future plans for Simbound?

Louis Havriliuc: Simbound will come close to world-class marketing solutions in terms of User Interface Elements as well as options and results. This will ensure a smooth transition from playing/learning to working on real marketing projects. We consider including other internet marketing areas such as Social Media or E-mail Marketing in the game.

Maybe down the road the game could turn into the real deal. Campaigns created by students could be exported to the ad marketplaces. We are looking to expand the customization options of the platform in terms of game content so as to appeal to more business domains and situations and thus provide a most relevant learning experience.

Digital Marketing (Search Engine Marketing in particular) can be quite complicated if you have no or little experience. What we want to do is create a smart system that can adapt to the learner, in other words to hone in on user progress and be able to provide tailored challenges and performance assessments. Already we have developed a model similar to search engine algorithms that are used to determine advertiser’s performance and costs paid for ads so this would probably be the next step.

About Louis Havriliuc

Originally from Romania, Louis Havriliuc graduated with a MSc degree in International Business at Leeds University Business School (UK), in 2009.

Louis has become a Serious Games advocate ever since he experienced his first business simulation course while at Leeds, thanks to his program director Nicolas Forsans who introduced the game-based learning approach.

Having been convinced by the experience of learning by doing, he has embarked on a journey to disseminate the use of business games for university courses worldwide.

His latest venture is Simbound – the first Serious Game to tackle digital marketing subjects such as Search Engine Marketing.

e-virtuoses 2012: Serious Games Conference 4th Edition Launches

2012-04-12T11:25:00.000-03:00

Building frameworks to evaluate and measure the impact of Serious Games by discipline

Via: e-virtuoses – Serious Games Conference 4^th Edition Launches

Valenciennes, 23 - 24 May, 2012

Following my prior post e-virtuoses: Evaluating And Measuring The Impact Of Serious Games, organizers have announced the 4h edition of e-virtuoses International Conference on Serious Games, which will be held on May 23-24, 2012, in Valenciennes, France.

e-virtuoses is one of the main European events dedicated to Serious Games. Organized by the CCI Grand Hainaut, the two-day conference will showcase demonstrations and exchanges between sponsors, creators, game designers, researchers and scientists.

The 2012 edition proposes an ambitious program aimed at:

• Understanding Serious Games
• Bringing solutions to the Enterprise
• Choosing the appropriate solution / technology
• Studying the impact of Serious Games
• Identifying new trends
• Promoting an exchange space for sponsors, studios and researchers

This year’s conference offers 24 sessions addressing 4 themes:

• Communication & Marketing
• Training & Education
• Risk & Crisis Management

• Evaluation & Measurement

As anticipated in my post e-virtuoses: Evaluating And Measuring The Impact Of Serious Games, the conference is offering a scientific symposium that aims at projecting conceptual frameworks to evaluate and measure the impact of Serious Games, and also to report on factual results from a scientific point of view.

e-virtuoses 2012 will present for the second time the e-virtuoses Awards, which will reward the best Serious Games in 4 categories:

Completed Serious Games

• Communication and Marketing

• Training and Education/

• Risk and Crisis Management

Serious Games In Production

• The best Serious Game project addressing any theme

Registration for the e-virtuoses Awards 2012 is open by the 1^st of May. A pre-selection committee will meet after the registration deadline in order to select the 4 best Serious Games in each category. The selected 16 Serious Games will be invited to audition to the jury on May 23rd at the Digital Workshops in Valenciennes. The e-virtuoses Awards 2012 ceremony will take place on the same evening.

A New School For Serious Games Executives

2012-04-02T09:45:00.003-03:00

Serious Games professionals will have a student talent pool to recruit from

Via: Ludus Academie - Ouverture de Ludus Académie

Formerly described as a trend phenomenon by its detractors, Serious Games have now become more accessible and established. As a proof of its lasting establishment, a school dedicated to the education of soon-to-be Serious Games executives just opened (please find also MSU Serious Game Design Masters Program

There is no doubt, 2009 has been a great year for French Serious Games, particularly because of the ministry call made by Nathalie Kociusko-Morizet. For the last three years, the Serious Games Market has been growing, so much that some see in it the main rejuvenator of education and teaching methods. In addition to the small number of pioneers, witnesses of this fast growth, numerous newcomers more or less specialized have invested the field.

Apparently a new step has been taken with the creation of a Serious Game specialized video game school. Its name: Ludus Academy. Starting in Novembre 2012 in Strasbourg, student from A level to Bachelor degree will be welcome to train to work in the Serious Games segment. Apprentice creators will be able to discover the complete range of techniques necessary to design games: the course programme mixes “high computer technical skills (programming, Artificial Intelligence, game engines,…) with bases on game conception (game & level design) as well as narrative art.

A good initiative, Serious Games professionals will certainly appreciate to have a student talent pool to recruit from.

Visit the school website at http://www.ludus-academie.fr/index.php

FBI And Other US Agencies Join Serious Games Adopters

2012-03-30T12:32:00.003-03:00

FBI Joins Gaming World Via Unreal Games Engine—For Training

Via: BBC NEWS Technology - Unreal Games Engine Licensed To Fbi And Other Us Agencies

Following my prior post Re-Pub: Serious Games To Teach Applied Forensic Science, BBC has just announced that The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation is using the Unreal Engine to create Serious Games for simulating Crime Scenes.

Developer Epic Games and its partner Virtual Heroes described the deal as a "long-term" agreement to support the technology on web browsers, consoles and handheld devices.

Full financial terms were not revealed. However, a statement said that an agreement to provide the tech to one of the agencies involved - the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) - was worth more than $10m (£6.3m).

IARPA will use the engine to build Serious Games, designed to help intelligence analysts tackle instinctual biases that might color their findings.

Other planned uses for the "Unreal Government Network" include:

· The FBI Academy using the tech to develop a virtual multiplayer crime scene in which its agents can carry out training simulations

· US army medics practicing their skills on an anesthesiology training application

· Weapons researchers using the engine as a "visualization tool"

Virtual Heroes has previously used the Unreal engine to develop America's Army 3, a first-person Call of Duty-style video game designed to promote recruitment to the armed services, and Zero Hour, a title used to help emergency service workers train for terror attacks and other mass casualty incidents.

Cost savings

Virtual Heroes is developing the Unreal-based HumanSim to help train hospital staff.

The announcement follows a speech given earlier this week by Colonel Robert "Pat" White, the deputy commander of the US Army's Combined Arms Center-Training, in which he highlighted gaming's importance to the military.

"Every leader struggles with limited time, dollars and resources," he said.

"Those same leaders know it's better to practice something first before you do it for real in live training. Live training is where our highest risk and greatest expense comes from."

The UK's Ministry of Defense admitted in December that it was also looking to upgrade its computer simulation equipment.

The leader of "Project Kite" told the Guardian: "Military-built simulators were state of the art, but now, for £50, you can buy a commercial game that will be far more realistic than the sorts of tools we were using."

He said he planned to recommend buying in technology from the big gaming companies as part of the solution.

Announcement of Serious Games Directory at SGA

2012-03-27T16:25:00.002-03:00

New Online, International Directory for Serious Games Industry Offers Free Listings for Titles, Tech, Services, Textbooks, Schools

LOS ANGELES – March 27, 2012 – The SeriousGames Association today announced a new, international resource for developers, providers, analysts, educators and consultants, the SeriousGames Directory. All listings and access will be available free in 2012.

The Serious Games Directory will cover commercially available

o Games and sims

o Developers interested in contract work

o Technology and tools

o Consultants

o Industry analyst firms covering the market

o Academic institutions offering serious game courses

o Textbooks and other resources

Games and sims will be organized by market:

Education

Corporate

Military/Government

Health Care

Games for Good

Serious Games Markets

Screens, photos and video can be added plus a link to a site for more information. The directory will be searchable by market, platform, developer, audience, topic and other terms.

Technology providers are invited to list engines and tools; design consultants, marketing analysts and text book authors can provide background on their services and a link to their own site for more information.

Academic institutions can offer information on courses and degrees offered.

The full directory of titles and services will be available online later this year. A general description of all titles will be available free. Members of the SeriousGames Association will have access to in depth information on titles and services.

To create a free listing, go to http://seriousgamesdirectory.com/

About the Serious Games Association

The Serious Games Association (SGA) supports all professionals in the serious games community. Services include research, educational conferences, special interest groups (SIGs) and committees studying how to move the industry ahead. Individual membership is $35, annually.

For more information http://seriousgamesassociation.com

Serious Games At Cultural & Creative IT Industries 2012

2012-03-25T14:45:00.008-03:00

Serious Games presence at the event dedicated to cultural creativity for a sustainable future

Conference Venue - World EXPO Center, Dalian, China

Via: Cultural & Creative IT Industries 2012 – Cultural Creativity for a Sustainable Future

The 1st Annual World Congress for Cultural & Creative IT Industries will take place on August 28 & 29, 2012 in Dalian, China, under the theme is Cultural Creativity for a Sustainable Future.

Over the last three months.Organizers have updated the program at http://www.bitconferences.com/cci2012/program.asp with the cooperation from experts worldwide.

Under Session 3-4: IT for Computer Games, the presentation Current State of art in Serious Games, by Dr. Aristidis Protopsaltis - a research assistant at the Serious Games Institute

Dr. Aristidis background is in Cognitive Science, in the area of information processing theory and comprehension. He is currently involved in 3 European projects with focus on educational and training applications of Serious Games. Dr. Aristidis Protopsaltis is the caretaker of the mEducator, eVITA and MODES projects working with a number of European partners.

He holds a PhD in Cognitive Science and an MSc in Cognitive Science and Intelligence Computing from the University of Westminster, where he studied with a scholarship from the Greek Foundation of Scholarships (IKY). He also holds a BSc in Primary Education from the University of Crete.

Dr. Aristidis has also served as a visiting lecturer at the University of Westminster, and as a teaching assistant at the CITY University London as, teaching various modules in the Computer Science and Informatics departments respectively. Furthermore, he was a research assistant at the Reading University in the department of Education, working on a Becta funded project investigating teaching expertise and use of technology.

He has published a number of peer-reviewed conferences and journal papers, and has served as a program and general co-chair at ACM SIGDOC conferences. He has also served as a reviewer at ACM SIGDOC conferences and the International Journal of Learning and Media.

He research interests focus on Serious Games and Education, Human Computer Interaction, Technology and Education, Usability, and Cognition and Hypermedia. His research is focused on how we can use Serious Games and how humans comprehend electronically presented information, how they process information, what strategies they use to locate and navigate information, and how they can complement their learning by using different types of media.

Personal website:

http://www.seriousgamesinstitute.co.uk/People/default.aspx?i=9d89e268-056a-48b9-8613-e33e2ed0c911

Re-Pub: Serious Games To Teach Applied Forensic Science

2012-03-22T13:13:00.000-03:00

Serious Games guiding players through the process of analyzing evidence and recreating the events of a crime scene

Via: e-semble – Kick-off CSI Serious Games Project

Via: Boston College - Virtual Forensics Lab

On 13 January, the kick-off of the CSI Serious Games Project took place in the Field Lab of the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI). This meant the entry of the project, which is part of CSI The Hague, at the NFI Academy (please find also Serious Games To Solve Crimes)

The kick-off of the CSI Serious Games Project is the start of the development of Serious Games for the CSI The Hague Project In cooperation with the NFI, E-Semble will develop a virtual reality training game to train forensic awareness that contains board game elements as well as virtual reality elements.

The learning objective of the game is to create awareness for the traces on a incident scene or crime scene. Furthermore, the game also teaches rescue professionals how to be part of the forensic chain.

E-Semble is closely involved in the development en application of the board game elements as well as the virtual reality elements of the game for which several forensic scenarios will be developed. The pilot of the CSI Serious Games project will take place in May 2012.

The opening of the CSI Lab was an important first step in the project. The CSI Lab offers new possibilities for the training of forensic detectives in the police force. The CSI project, in which the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) collaborates with several partners such as TNO, Delft University of Technology and E-Semble, is a successful public-private collaboration in which diverse expertise is brought together.

Another example of Serious Games for teaching forensics is the Boston College’s Virtual Forensics Lab

The Serious Game allows students to examine a re-created crime scene

The Virtual Forensics Laboratory is designed to teach applied forensic science through Serious Games. Set in a three-dimensional game space, the lab enables students to both practice photographing and collecting evidence, such as fingerprints, blood spatter, and weapons in a recreated crime scene, and examines related case materials such as 911 calls, psychological examinations, and police interrogations. By guiding them through the process of analyzing evidence and recreating the events of the crime, the virtual lab helps student practice the critical thinking skills involved in deducing the motivations for crimes and identifying likely offenders.

Nursing professor Ann Burgess received an ATIG grant to develop this unique tool for teaching forensic science through game-based learning. In the past, she simply used manikins and fake blood to create a simulated crime scene for her students to examine, but her goal was to create a richer and more interactive environment for learning forensics methods.

Serious Games To Teach Applied Forensic Science

2012-03-20T21:06:00.006-03:00

Serious Games guiding players through the process of analyzing evidence and recreating the events of a crime scene

Via: e-semble – Kick-off CSI Serious Games Project

Via: Boston College - Virtual Forensics Lab

Another example of Serious Games for teaching forensics is the Boston College’s Virtual Forensics Lab

The Serious Game allows students to examine a re-created crime scene

PSFK’s Report Serious Games Overcoming Unsolvable Challenges

2012-03-20T14:48:00.001-03:00

The Future Of Gaming Report covers Serious Games that solve the unsolvable to achieve specific goals

Via: Interactive Multimedia Technology – PSFK’s Future of Gaming Report [Preview]

SlideShare gathers some superb presentations on Serious Games as covered on my prior posts Serious Games In Urban Planning For Playful Public Participation, PlayGen Journey From Serious Games To Not So Serious Play, Presentation: Bringing Serious Games Into The Classroom and Serious Games Presentation With “A Taste Of” Game Play

PSFK’s Future Of Gaming Report (Summary Presentation) discloses key trends emerging within the gaming space that brands, non-profits and communities can leverage to build engagement and motivate their target audience towards achieving a desired goal or outcome. As a consequence, the report includes various examples of Serious Games in action.

Recognizing that there is a tremendous amount of research and study taking place around gaming, PSFK positions this report as a contribution to the conversation. It provides a current snapshot into the innovative ways that Serious Games are being used within the broader marketplace, examines their expanding role in effecting change on an individual and societal level, and highlights the new technologies that are making these experiences possible.

According to the website, PSFK will be publishing the emerging trends in gaming that they came across after analyzing 800 data points, and speaking to the people behind key projects leading this change. Their research yielded 17 key gaming trends that sit within three broader themes- Purpose behind the Game, Mechanics that Drive People to Action and Game Functionality and Systems. This report presents the key examples under those themes.

Games and play are at the foundation of how people learn, develop and socialize. As humans we respond instantly to entertaining and engaging experiences. But what makes a game worth playing? What rules must it have? How should it work?

The report provides an overview of the key trends permeating the creation of games today. It specifically looks at how play is being used by organizations, corporations and communities to achieve a specific purpose. Fueled by the ability to gather many players across the world through online connectivity, projects of any scale can be undertaken, overcoming previously unsolvable challenges. When applied to socially responsible enterprise or charitable programs these collective efforts are capable of bringing about real change.

The mechanics behind games are evolving as social connectivity influences both the way and the pace at which people interact with one another. The nature of our modern online presence allows us to communicate, compete and collaborate with one-another in real-time at any point in the day. Driven by rapid advances in mobile and sensor technology, games are now able to bridge real and virtual worlds. They can now take place across separate realities that often influence each other, creating new opportunities for play and changing the way players experience their daily lives.

PSFK Future of Gaming Report [Preview]

View more presentations from PSFK

e-virtuoses Evaluating And Measuring The Impact Of Serious Games

2012-03-20T12:27:00.000-03:00

Building frameworks to evaluate and measure the impact of Serious Games by discipline

Via: e-virtuoses – International Scientific Symposium - Evaluate and Measure the Impact of Serious Games

Les Ateliers Numériques, Valenciennes, May 23rd 2012

On May 23rd in Valenciennes, e-virtuoses (please find also e-virtuoses: Serious Games Case Study Conference) are organizing a scientific symposium called “Evaluate and Measure the Impact of Serious Games” during the International Conference on Serious Games to be held on May 23-24, 2012.

The event aims at enabling the projection of theoretical frameworks to evaluate and measure the impact of Serious Games, and also to report on factual results from a scientific point of view.

The impact notion is described here as the effect or influence that Serious Games generate both on users and the learning ecosystem.

The event will explore Serious Games impact at the individual, social and institutional levels, so-called micro, meso and macro levels. Organizers intend to illustrate those three levels via a) the study of a Serious Game user feedback (micro); b) the interactivity between groups of users (meso), and c) the interaction generated by a Serious Game in an organized system of any size: institution, enterprise, city or county (macro). Those three levels may make use of different methodologies, depending on the respective scientific metric.

The event overall objective is to create a fruitful context for a debate on comparative approaches to different disciplines such as sciences of education, information and communication, psychology, sociology, management, computing, neurosciences, and Arts.

FUTURE-MAKING SERIOUS GAMES On Google+ Pages

2012-03-15T18:56:00.004-03:00

Updated +1 button graphics graduating to public today

The updated +1 button button with the new look is rolling out to all users today, whilst the Google+ Badge allows us to connect our website to our Google+ page or our personal profile on Google+.

Here are all of them in action:

Serious Games Enhancing The Rehabilitation Environment – Update

2012-03-14T14:20:00.017-03:00

Serious Games promoting a breakthrough in rehabilitation medicine for balance and postural disorders

Via: MOTEK MEDICAL – Body Posture Serious Game

In my prior post Serious Games Enhancing The Rehabilitation Environment, I had already addressed CAREN, MOTEK MEDICAL leading product. CAREN (Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment) is a multi-purpose, multi-sensory system for diagnosis, rehabilitation, evaluation and recording. It records a person's ability to balance and control movement. The system works in real time and enables the creation of a range of experiences in a controlled environment that can be repeated using the principles of virtual reality technologies.

CAREN systems always consist of a motion base, motion capture, a projection screen and the D-flow software

Body Posture Rehabilitation As A Serious Game

MOTEK MEDICAL offers powerful and flexible solutions for people with balance and postural disorders: by applying a Serious Games approach, patients as players achieve higher levels and scores as they perform well.

The application illustrates well how immersion and motivation can enhance performance, specifically for patients with balance and postural disorders who are afraid of incurring pain during rehabilitation sessions.

In the Body Posture Application, the patient needs to mimic postures of a hollow avatar that advances towards him on a screen.

Therapists control a variety of input parameters for challenging postural stability conditions. They can increase difficulty and can also input how accurately the patient must move into the posture in order to receive positive feedback

MOTEK’s Body Posture Serious Game challenges players to move and stand in different postures without making them conscious of the fact that they are being trained.

The whole scenario provides a positive game- like experience

Body Posture was also the winner of the Dutch Game Awards for the Best Serious Game 2011.

The Dutch Game Awards showcases the achievements of the Dutch Game Industry, highlighting both the quality and quantity of games produced in the Netherlands. The purpose of the awards is to spotlight the achievements of the Dutch Game industry and to promote The Netherlands as a game development country to the world.

2012 National STEM Serious Game Challenge: Deadline Extended

2012-03-11T14:26:00.002-03:00

Serious Games to motivate children’s interest in science, technology, engineering and math

Following my prior post 2012 National STEM Video Game Challenge Now Open For Entries, the nationwide competition, inviting students and educators to create original video game concepts and designs to motivate children’s interest in science, technology, engineering and math, has just announced that the deadline has been extended until March 23.

Winners will be announced in late May at an event in Washington, DC. Details on the four categories for entry and prizes being offered can be found at http://www.stemchallenge.org/

The Joan Ganz Cooney Center and E-Line Media are very excited to see this year’s entries, with the success of two of last year’s youth winners taking part in the White House Science Fair held in February.

If you have any questions about the Challenge, please don’t hesitate to contact Jodi.Lefkowitz at sesame.org

About STEM Serious Game Challenge

The competition invites game makers of every age to show their passion for both playing and making video games, while aiming to motivate children's interests in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).

The four different categories are all dedicated to STEM Serious Games: the Middle School and High School categories aim to motivate and engage students in STEM learning by challenging them to design and create their very own original video games. The Collegiate and Educator categories challenge emerging game developers to show us their skills by designing video games for children in pre-K - grade 12 that teach STEM curricula in a new and innovative way.

For more information and to register, please visit http://www.stemchallenge.org/

This competition is being run by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop and E-Line Media, in partnership with sponsors AMD Foundation, Entertainment Software Association, Xbox 360, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting PBS KIDS Ready To Learn initiative. Outreach partners include the American Association of School Librarians, American Library Association, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, BrainPOP, George Lucas Educational Foundation, Girl Scouts of the USA, International Game Developers Association, and One Economy.

(Serious) Games For Health New Journal Gathers Some Of The Brightest Folks Around

2012-03-07T13:43:00.002-03:00

(Serious) Games for Health Journal: Research, Development, and Clinical Applications is a bimonthly peer-reviewed journal

Via: Games For Health Journal

(Serious) Games for Health Journal: Research, Development, and Clinical Applications is a bimonthly journal dedicated to the development, use, and applications of game technology for improving physical and mental health and well-being (please find also Health Games and Medical Games categories).

The Journal breaks new ground as the first to address this emerging, widely-recognized, and increasingly adopted area of healthcare.

Serious Games are rapidly becoming an important tool for improving health behaviors ranging from healthy lifestyle habits and behavior modification, to self-management of illness and chronic conditions to motivating and supporting physical activity. Games are also increasingly used to train healthcare professionals in methods for diagnosis, medical procedures, patient monitoring, as well as for responding to epidemics and natural disasters.

Games for Health Journal is a must for anyone interested in the research and design of health games that integrate well-tested, evidence-based behavioral health strategies to help improve health behaviors and to support the delivery of care.

Games for Health Journal coverage includes:

· Nutrition, weight management, obesity

· Disease prevention, self-management, and adherence

· Cognitive, mental, emotional, and behavioral health

· Games in home-to-clinic telehealth systems

Games for Health Journal is under the editorial leadership of Editor-in-Chief Bill Ferguson, PhD, and other leading investigators. View the entire editorial board that includes some of the brightest folks around that deal with this topic.

About Games for Health Industry Insider eNewsletter

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publisher's Games for Health Industry Insider is an innovative electronic newsletter that delivers the latest updates on new digital health game technology, clinical applications, collaborations and partnerships, funding, and critical industry news.

Published biweekly, Games for Health Industry Insider is emailed directly to your inbox or email-enabled mobile device every other Thursday morning. Sign up for your FREE trial today

Here is the PRESS RELEASE:

HealthGames Emerge as Important New Therapeutic Tools for Physical and Mental Healthand Well-Being

Serious Games Association Setting Up Special Interest Groups

2012-03-06T18:14:00.008-03:00

Serious Games Association becomes operational

Via: Serious Games Association - New Game Trade Association To Set Up Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and Committees

Following my prior post SeriousGames Association Forming, one of SGA’s first activities will be to set up Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and committees.

Members who have an interest in being active or even chairing any of the following groups, please email

SIGs

Games for:

o Education

o Healthcare/Medical

o Corporate

o Govt/Military

o Games for Good

Game Design

Teaching Serious Games

Assessment & Measurement

Local Chapter Leadership

The Serious Games Association is also encouraging members to list their game in the SGA’s new Serious Games Directory, an online, international resource being established for anyone seeking information on Serious Games and Sims. Technology and tools, consulting services or textbooks for the industry can also be listed.

Registration is already open for the annual SeriousPlay Conference, now in its second year and being brought under the Serious Games Association! Visit the website for more information. http://www.seriousplayconference.com/

Games can also be submitted for the International Serious Play Awards competition. Deadline will be May 15. http://www.seriousplayconference.com/awards/

Gadgets To God: Serious Games That Influence Our Lives

2012-03-02T12:39:00.002-03:00

New book reveals Wortley’s journey through Serious Games and technologies that influenced his life

Via: Gadgets To God Book Website

DavidWortley’s new book Gadgets To God is a journey through the gadgets and technologies that have influenced his life and have changed the way we live, work and play.

Founding Director of the Serious Games Institute (please find also MappingThe Serious Games Industry Within The UK and SeriousGames Institute Could Help Recession Hit Industries), Wortley takes us on a fifty-year ride, devoting each of the chapters to an individual communications technology from the transport technologies of bicycles, scooters, motor bikes, cars, buses, trains and planes of chapter two to the immersive technologies of video games, virtual worlds and social networks that now engage our discretionary time, attention and income.

Chapter Nine, It’s Only A Game, explores Wortley’s journey through Serious Games, stating his contention that “all games are inherently serious and the most successful activity for engaging our discretionary time”. This chapter also sets the scene for the final chapter in which he speculates on what might be in a store if we follow this path.

David Wortley is about to embark on a roadshow for the book, including special talks with lots of audience interaction. The Forward to the Past Show is a humorous walk through the technologies that are changing our lives forever illustrated with anecdotes, music, videos and audience interaction in an innovative format.

The show’s premiere takes place at the Little Theatre in Leicester on April 10^th, at 10:30 - tickets available from the theatre box office.

simSchool: Serious Games As A Flight Simulator For Teachers

2012-02-24T11:53:00.000-02:00

Serious Games providing challenging teaching scenarios that develop the knowledge and skills needed for classroom success

Via: Pragmatic Solutions, Inc - NMC Horizon Report Highlights simSchool

“Open-ended, challenge-based, truly collaborative Serious Games are features of an emerging category of applications that are especially appropriate for higher education.”

PRESS RELEASE

NMC Horizon Report Highlights simSchool

The New Media Consortium (NMC) and EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (ELI) released the prestigious NMC Horizon Report: 2012 Higher Education Edition (please find also Serious Games To Have Significant Influence on Higher Education) naming simSchool as one of the examples of emerging technologies likely to have an impact on learning, teaching, and creative inquiry in higher education.

Westlake Village, CA, February 21, 2012) -- The New Media Consortium (NMC) and EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (ELI) released the prestigious NMC Horizon Report: 2012 Higher Education Edition naming simSchool as one of the examples of emerging technologies likely to have an impact on learning, teaching, and creative inquiry in higher education.

simSchool was cited in the Game-Based Learning in Practice section, stating; “simSchool is a flight simulator for teachers that provides challenging teaching scenarios that develop the knowledge and skills needed for classroom success. Research has indicated that training time on the simulator makes a significant difference in a teacher’s self-efficacy and sense of the focus of control.” “The recognition of being included in the Horizon Report is validation that simSchool is on the path to making a real difference in education,” said David Gibson Ed. D. simSchool creator.

The report went on to point out that “open-ended, challenge-based, truly collaborative Serious Games are features of an emerging category of applications that are especially appropriate for higher education.” simSchool attracts attention in colleges of education, learning support centers devoted to faculty development, and in medical and legal schools for its possible application in a variety of human resources simulations. In its role in the preparation of educators, simSchool is the world's first and only dynamic simulator designed to train people in learning sciences, psychology, student relationships, teaching methods, and the knowledge and skills needed to reach all students.

Results of teachers experience are real, measureable, and include:

· improvement in general teaching skill

· improved confidence in using technology

· increased belief that the teacher has the skills and ability to make a difference in a child's life

· improvement in pre-service teachers' performance in teacher preparation courses and attitudes toward inclusion of special needs students

· significant positive impact on the mastery of deeper learning capacities that comprise the readiness to teach

· increased "staying power" on the path to the field of teaching acquired through rapid development of strong self-efficacy and resilience

In these ways and more, simSchool enables transformational experiences for teachers to help them become more effective leaders in their classrooms and learning communities.

To be a part of simSchool, please visit http://www.simSchool.org

About All Stakeholders:

About the NMC Horizon Report: 2012 Higher Education Edition

The internationally recognized NMC Horizon Report series and regional NMC Technology Outlooks are part of the NMC Horizon Project, a comprehensive research venture established in 2002 that identifies and describes emerging technologies likely to have a large impact over the coming five years in education around the globe. This volume, the NMC Horizon Report: 2012 Higher Education Edition was again produced in a collaborative effort with the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative, an EDUCAUSE Program, and examines emerging technologies for their potential impact on teaching, learning, and creative inquiry within the higher education environment.

For more information on the NMC Horizon Report please visit http://www.nmc.org/news/and-eli-release-horizon-report-2012-hied-edition or

http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/HR2012.pdf

About simSchool and CurveShift

simSchool is a classroom simulation that supports the rapid accumulation of a teacher's experience in analyzing student differences, adapting instruction to individual learner needs, gathering data about the impacts of instruction, and seeing the results of their teaching. It’s a virtual learning environment where instructors can explore instructional strategies, examine classroom management techniques, and practice building relationships with students that will translate into increased learning. The students may be virtual but their very real behaviors are based on decades of psychological and behavioral research. The results teacher users experience are real and measureable, too, and include improvement in general teaching skill, improved confidence in using technology, and an increased belief that the teacher-user has the skills and ability to make a difference in a child’s life. Using simSchool has even been shown to improve pre-service teachers’ performance in teacher preparation courses and attitudes toward inclusion of special needs students. In these ways and more, simSchool enables transformational experiences for teachers to help them become more effective leaders in their classrooms and learning communities. The simSchool Modules project is funded by the Next Generation Learning Challenges (NGLC) Wave 1 program of EDUCAUSE with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

For more information on simSchool, please visit http://www.simSchool.org

CurveShift designs and distributes high quality digital tools and resources for K12 teacher and organizational effectiveness. CurveShift owns over $12 million worth of digital content, platforms, authoring tools and courseware aimed at K-12 teacher preparation and development. CurveShift's founders and their colleagues developed these assets over the past decade through government grants and contracts. Many of the products are already successful and in use across many industry segments.

For more information on CurveShift, please visit http://www.curveshift.com

About Leverage™ Adaptive Learning Platform and Pragmatic Solutions, Inc.

Leverage™ Adaptive Learning Platform was developed by Pragmatic Solutions, Inc. under military specs to support large-scale, simulations, virtual environments, and learning management systems. Central to Leverage’s capabilities is the ability to seamlessly manage millions of user accounts, collect terabytes of data, execute thousands of business rules, and deliver real-time analytics and feedback to multiple classes of end users without impacting the flow or delivery of content or game play. Leverage currently serves as the backend framework for programs in government, business, education, research, corporate training, and commercial entertainment. Tens of thousands of content objects, dynamic media tools, game scenarios, and user-specific items and messages flow in and out of Leverage’s centralized database and interfaces hourly to users in 40 countries around the world.

For more information on Leverage or Pragmatic Solutions, Inc., please visit http://www.pr-sol.com

Pragmatic Solutions, Inc. headquartered in Westlake Village, CA, is a data modeling innovator with extensive organizational expertise in creating stable, scalable database and server architecture conducive to business information and learning management systems. Over the past decade, Pragmatic has worked at the leading edge of systems design, exploring how advanced data collection, inference and analysis tools can be used to impact performance, engagement, and learning in simulations, games, virtual worlds, and other interactive web environments. Pragmatic’s systems currently influence tens of millions of users’ online experiences around the world.

About NGLC

NGLC reflects a unique synergy resulting from the blended expertise, leadership, and credibility of both institutional and technology leaders who share a commitment to resolving the educational challenges our students – and the country - faces , and to expanding the adoption of proven innovations within timelines that will demonstrate measurable impact on the problems of the day. NGLC is led by EDUCAUSE in partnership with the League for Innovation in the Community College, the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL), and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). Funding is being provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

For more information on the Phase 1 NGLC Program: http://www.nextgenlearning.org

Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE)

AACE (founded in 1981) is an international, educational, and professional organization dedicated to the advancement of the knowledge, theory and quality of learning and teaching at all levels with information technology. For simSchool Modules, AACE will house "modules" created by participating partners in EdITLib, an open source library of education and information technology digital resources. http://aace.org/

Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education (SITE)

SITE promotes the development and dissemination of theoretical knowledge, conceptual research, and professional practice knowledge through the SITE conference, books, collaborative projects with other organizations, and the Journal of Technology and Teacher Education. SITE (founded in 1990) is a society of the Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). During the simSchool Modules project, SITE will operate as a communications hub, both promoting the project to its global constituency of higher ed institutions and helping disseminate news on going progress and research results. http://site.aace.org/

University of North Texas (UNT)

UNT is a student-focused, public, research university located in Denton, Texas. One of Texas' largest universities, UNT offers 97 bachelors, 88 masters’ and 40 doctoral degree programs within the university's 12 colleges and schools. During the simSchool Modules project, UNT will serve as the Research Center on Teaching and Learning with simSchool. http://www.unt.edu/

FableVision

Boston-based FableVision Studios creates award-winning websites, games & activities, animated films, interactive graphic novels, museum kiosks, digital storybooks, desktop applications, and iPhone apps. FableVision is dedicated to helping ALL learners reach their full potential and to telling "stories that matter, stories that move." During the simSchool Modules Project, FableVision's team will help direct creative and business development toward improving user experiences and enhancing the simSchool brand. http://fablevision.com/

Aspire Awards: Serious Games Empowering Youth To Promote Social Change

2012-02-23T19:55:00.000-02:00

Serious Games Market celebrating the work of young media artists

Via: Edutopiaand Adobe Foundation - Introducing the Adobe Youth Voices Aspire Awards

Adobe Youth Voices is the signature philanthropic effort of the Adobe Foundation intended to empower youth and educators through media making experiences that promote social change. As a part of this effort, the Adobe Youth Voices Aspire Awards celebrates the extraordinary work of young media artists from around the world by recognizing top talent in media production.

Adobe Foundation and Edutopia (please find also Edutopia:How To Bring Serious Games Into The Classroom) invite you to participate in the Aspire Awards, giving young creatives the opportunity to have their work showcased publicly. this media festival seeks to recognize outstanding creative projects that demonstrate imagination and expression along with an evident motivation for social change.

How To Get Involved - Submissions Are Now Open!

All media must be submitted for youth by an educator in the Adobe Youth Voices educator network or by educators who have registered to Adobe Youth Voices Essentials.

The Adobe Youth Voices educator network includes educators who are affiliated with partner organizations. If you are an educator affiliated with Adobe Youth Voices through one of these organizations, please submit your media via the Adobe Youth Voices online community. If you are not part of the Adobe Youth Voices educator network, please submit your media via Adobe Youth Voices Essentials, at http://essentials.youthvoices.adobe.com/ and receive free creative curriculum covering subjects from printed posters to animated video.

Choose Your Format

The Aspire Awards will accept entries in the following categories: Animation, Documentary, Audio, Music Video, Graphic Design, Narrative, Digital Photography, and Poetry/Experimental.

Media must be submitted by April 20, 2012, on behalf of a youth artist by an educator participating in Adobe Youth Voices. Prizes will be given to the top honorees, and their work will be showcased online, at partner film festivals, and other exhibitions.

Serious Games & Sim @ I/ITSEC 2012: Abstracts Submission Open

2012-02-22T14:42:00.001-02:00

I/ITSEC abstract submissions are open with the official deadline approaching quickly. Sim and Serious Gaming are welcome!

Abstracts submission for the Interservice/IndustryTraining, Simulation and Education Conference - I/ITSEC 2012 – will close this Friday.

As a prospective author, your chances of having an abstract accepted are significantly greater if you send your abstract to the appropriate subcommittee,

The subcommittee Simulation is about the science of modeling and simulation (M&S), welcoming simulation architectures or techniques, and the representation of synthetic entities or environments for use in simulation, training, rehearsal, Serious Gaming or analysis.

I/ITSEC seeks papers on the theory and application of M&S, including development work processes, technical challenges, lessons learned, and innovations associated with creating, interacting with and maintaining modules and simulation systems. Typical topics of interest include: the evolution of M&S technology; the use of hardware-in-the-loop; the interoperability of heterogeneous simulations; and the methodology used to create and present physical and behavioral representations of entities and environments within live, virtual, and constructive simulations.

Please visit http://www.iitsec.org/authors/Documents/2012Call4PapersTutorials.pdf for further details.

The Buzz Around The New Serious Games Association

2012-02-16T12:06:00.001-02:00

The Serious Games Association is designed to support all professionals in the Serious Games community

There has been a lot of buzz around the creation of the new Serious Games Association, since its announcement on Feb 13.

Here is a taste of it:

Via: GamePolitics - The Serious Games Association Launches

“A new association has formed to help promote the serious gaming industry, aptly called The Serious Games Association. The mission statement of the group is to create an atmosphere where publishers, developers, technology providers, and those involved in the Serious Games sector can come together to advance their cause of using game technology to promote real world change or awareness on serious issues.”

Via: Gamasutra - Serious Games Association Opens Membership

“Serious Games Association, a new international trade group serving the non-entertainment games industry, has opened its membership to students, developers, publishers, tool providers, analysts, and other professionals.”

“The association will cater to those working in the field of Serious Games, or game-like software for educational, corporate, defense, political, advertising, charity, or other non-entertainment purposes.”

Via: IndustryGamers - Serious Games Association Forms

“The Serious Games Association is a new group that aims to bring together publishers, developers, technology providers and all those involved in the Serious Games sector. Using the Serious Play Conference as a backer, the new association will look to build a unique directory and platform for those that have a livelihood in games.”

“The new association has made it clear that the name is drawn not from the idea of creating Serious Games, but from developing ‘serious purpose’ in training and learning about the gaming industry.”

Via: Edge Magazine - Serious Games Association Open for Membership

“The Serious Games Association, set up to support the burgeoning sector of Serious Games, which are designed for use in professional fields including healthcare and the military, is now open for membership.”

“As well as access to conferences and networking opportunities, membership offers a free listing in the Serious Games Directory, discounts on passes to the annual Serious Play Conference, product entry into the conference's awards, and more.”

“The SGA is also looking for "sustaining members," who will be more deeply involved with the association and automatically be made sponsors of the conference.”

“Standard membership costs $35 per year; sustained memberships cost $10,000.”

Via: gamesindustry.biz - Serious Games Association Membership Opens

“A new association has launched for those involved in creating games for education and training.”

“The Serious Games Association will host conferences, support groups and manage a blog and media site for those who create games with a purpose beyond simple entertainment. This includes simulations, corporate games, educational games, and those designed with a social benefit in mind.

“It will also run The Serious Play Conference, which will take place August 21 in Washington.”

Via: Elder-Geek - Serious Games Association Founded

“A newly formed foundation is gearing up to raise funds and support for the serious side of the gaming industry. Less a stuffy elitism spoken between sips of tea (as they readjust their monocles and top hats, of course), the Serious Games part refers to making more purposeful training and learning experiences surrounding gaming and the industry at large. We’re still not 100% sure what that means, but hopefully the Serious Games Association’s raison d’etre will be more thoroughly explained as the group gets its foundation.”

Get Ready: Serious Games Showcase and Challenge 2012

2012-02-15T14:36:00.002-02:00

Serious Games Submission begins in August

Via: Serious Games Showcase & Challenge

Get Ready for the Serious Games Showcase and Challenge 2012

Submission begins in August

Get your games ready today

Serious Games for Serious Training

The goal of SeriousGames Showcase & Challenge is to identify innovative game-based technologies and solutions that improve training across all segments for individuals, groups and systems.

Get Serious, Get Recognized!

Submit your original serious games entry (PC Game or as a Mobile Game) and have your work reviewed by a panel of military, academia and industry gaming experts. Finalists will be showcased, and winners announced, at I/ITSEC 2012 in Orlando, Florida. Entries can be a PC game of a Mobile Game.

No Limits!

Whether you’re an individual, small business or big business – the Serious Games Showcase & Challenge is open to you! Submissions can be targeted to training in any segment, including education, corporate, or military. If game development is your past-time (indie game developer), your intended field, or your current business; if you can create a game into a training solution consider how you would use your skills to develop a serious game solution to enhance training – SGS&C could put your work in front of some of the best gaming and simulation companies in the world.

May you have a question about entering or sponsoring, email SGSCHALLENGE at gmail.com

Serious Games Association Forming

2012-02-13T19:06:00.009-02:00

New Serious Games Association will serve the exponentially growing Serious Games industry

Via: Serious Games Association - New Game Trade Association

Serious Games Association Forming:

Open to Publishers, Developers, Technology Providers, Consultants

LOS ANGELES – Feb. 13, 2012 – The Serious Games Association (SGA), designed to support all professionals in the Serious Games community with educational conferences, special interest groups, tools and training, is open for membership at http://www.seriousgamesassociation.com

Programs and services for all market segments – education, healthcare/medical, corporate, government/military and games for good are in-the-works.

The Serious PlayConference (please find also Call 4 Speakers: 2nd Serious Play Conference, Everything About Serious Games), in its second year, is being brought under the Serious Games Association. A Serious Games Directory, listing titles from all publishers; developers; technology and tool providers; industry analysts; consultants; and academic institutions with Serious Games courses as well as a data base of textbooks and other resources is in development.

The Serious Games Association (SGA) will also publish research on the Serious Games Market, organize special interest groups (SIGS) and support a blog as well as media site that will carry industry news and new product announcements.

“Serious Games” refers to games or simulations developed for a “serious” purpose such as training or learning, as opposed to games created purely to be entertaining.

Individual membership in the Serious Games Association is $35 annually, which will entitle members to discounts on association events, access to profiles of games and Sims in the Serious Games Directory and other benefits. Corporate and Sustaining Memberships are also available.

Information on the Serious Games Association can be found at http://www.seriousgamesassociation.com