Questions?

Games and Learning

Jose ZagalElectronic Learning Communities LabCollege of Computing & GVU Center

Georgia Institute of Technology

Learning from games

Using games as the subject of learning.

What does it mean to study and learn about games? What are the challenges?

Can this teach us anything about learning?

How can you make the most of what you already know about games?

A new form of literacy?

Research My research explores these questions by

designing collaborative online environments for people who are learning about games and studying games.

….and trying to understand HOW learning happens in these environments

…and what can we do to IMPROVE them

GameLog and GameOntologyWiki

GameLog Online blogging environment for gamers

GameOntology Wiki Developing concepts and vocabulary for

understanding games Creating new knowledge!

Students takingGame

courses

Overview

Game studiesscholars

Currently use

(Blogging tool )

Reflect on gameplay experiences by using

Will help them contribute to

www.GameLog.cl

• Online blogging tool for games• www.gamelog.cl

• Multiple, parallel blogs (one per game)

• Can help you:• Connect game elements across multiple games• Gain insight on how the experience of playing

a game changes over time

Blog entry

www.GameOntology.org Ongoing games studies research project

Started in 2002 Led by Michael Mateas (UCSC) & Jose Zagal (GaTech)\

Hierarchical classification of structural elements of games and the relationships between them

Focus on elements that affect or define gameplay Currently over 150 entries

Always Evolving Entries are constantly created and refined Grounded in videogames (not generated abstractly)

Exists on a wiki www.gameontology.org

Name: To OwnParent: Entity ManipulationChildren: To Capture To Possess, To ExchangeDescription: Entities can own other game entities. Ownership does not carry any inherent

meaning, other than the fact that one entity is tied to another. Changes in ownership can not be initiated by the owned entity. Ownership can change the attributes or abilities of either the owned or owning entity. Ownership can be used to measure performance, either positive or negative. Ownership is never permanent; the possibility of losing ownership separates ownership from an inherent attribute or ability of an entity. Ownership of an entity can change in variety of ways, including voluntary and involuntary changes of ownership.

It is important to note the difference between owning an entity, and using an entity. For example, in Super Mario Bros, when Mario collides with a mushroom, the mushroom is immediately used and removed from the game world. Mario never owns the mushroom.

Strong Example: In Super Mario World Mario can collect mushrooms (or fire flowers or feathers) to use later. Mario owns these entities and can make use of them later.

Weak Example: In Ico, the player character must protect a girl called Yorda. While the player only directly controls Ico, his actions are very closely tied to leading, guiding and protecting Yorda. One could argue that Ico, in effect, owns Yorda because of the way they are tied to each other.

Game Ontology – Sample Entry

Game Ontology Wiki

•The current ontology has been migrated to a Wiki

Pages are end user modifiable.

Game Ontology Wiki

•The current ontology has been migrated to a Wiki

There is a record of the evolution of the knowledge being created.

Game Ontology Wiki

•The current ontology has been migrated to a WikiEvery page has an associated

discussion page.

Discussion is separate fromobject of discussion.

Game Ontology Wiki

•The current ontology has been migrated to a Wiki

Watchlists

Keep track of changesto pages you are interested in.

Games Studies Scholars

Game StudiesScholars

Currently use the Game Ontology to explore game studies research questions.

For example:

Neubauer, S. (2006) - The Gameplay Video Segmentation Method, MFA Thesis, School of Media, University of Applied Sciences, Stuttgart

Söderqvist, T. & Larsson, C. (2006) - Items in Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games, MSc Thesis, IT University of Goteburg

Zagal, J., Mateas, M., Fernandez-Vara, C., Hochhalter, B. and Lichti, N. (2005) "Towards an Ontological Language for Game Analysis",  Selected Papers of the Digital Interactive Games Research Association Conference (DiGRA 2005), Vancouver B.C., June, 2005.

Fernandez-Vara, C., Zagal, J., Mateas, M. (2005). "Evolution of Spatial Configurations In Videogames",  Selected Papers of the Digital Interactive Games Research Association Conference (DiGRA 2005), Vancouver B.C., June, 2005. (nominated for Best Paper Award)

Zagal, J.P., Fernandez-Vara, C., Mateas, M. (In press) "Gameplay Segmentation in Vintage Arcade Games",  Ludologica Retro, Volume 1: Vintage Arcade (1971-1984), Bogost, I. and Bittanti, M. (Eds)

Students takingGame Courses

ThinkGame - Summary

Game StudiesScholars

(Blogging tool )

What’s in it for you? Gain a deeper understanding of the medium of

videogames

Get better at expressing and communicating ideas about games and gameplay

Help you better analyze and understand videogames

Use what you already know to contribute to the field of game studies

Contact Information Jose Zagal

jp@cc.gatech.edu www.cc.gatech.edu/~jp

Electronic Learning Communities (ELC) Lab www.cc.gatech.edu/elc

Experimental Games Lab (EGL) egl.gatech.edu

My Research Study Voluntary!

Anonymous No one but you and me know you’re in the study

No extra work involved I just want permission to study the assignments you’ll do for class anyways I may want to talk to you during the semester.

Won’t affect your grade in any way

You can drop out of the study whenever you want. No questions asked.

Thank you for participating !