Game-based Learning
Learning that is fun and engaging
Humans have used games to learn and teach for many millennia; at Upside Learning we recognize the tremendous learning value that games embody. Computing technology has become widespread and is an accepted part of life now. In line with this computing culture, digital games and its metaphors are joining mainstream culture - this influence is widely felt and seen in arts, media, and our daily lives. As younger individuals enter the workforce, they bring with them expectations of sophisticated digital media, engagement and interaction. These expectations have been molded by games and allied technologies and only digital games can meet them.
We offer complete learning game design and development services that target a wide variety of learning & performance outcomes. We can identify whether a digital learning game can meet your learning needs, the type of digital game to be used to meet those needs, and also provide extensive game design guidance to freeze on design. Our development service follows to bring the game vision to fruition.
Our design process targets four elements that are essential to every learning game:
- The Environment, Avatars and Objects –
These make up the bulk of what the player sees and interacts with during game-play. - Game-play and Strategy -
The rules of game-play and what strategies the player/game can adopt in completion to meet the outcomes. - Competitions and Dynamics –
Every game must include an element of competition. There should be dynamism in outcomes that result from player's choice of strategy. - Immersion and Interaction –
The game should immerse the player in the environment and allow for interaction with the environment, objects and avatars in varied ways.
Upside Learning’s game solutions can be broadly categorized into two areas:
Casual Games
Casual games are simple, easy to play, short and designed for repeated play. Casual games can be distinguished by their simple rules. They require no long-term time commitment or special skills to play. Upside Learning develops several types of casual games – quiz games, games that use simple board games as a model, puzzle-based games and others. We have also developed casual game shells that let us deploy game-like content for efficient learning. These shells include Score and simple Feedback mechanics to enhance the game play experience.
Ideal for: Recall of Knowledge – facts, concepts, procedures
Simulation Games
Simulation Games are simulations that contain multiple game-like elements but retain some environmental fidelity. The environment, objects and rules simulate a performance environment. Upside has expertise in creating life-life environments and populating them with objects that emulate the real world. Players can interact with the objects and avatars in these environments. At the heart of a simulation game is a pertinent context that’s aligned to learning and business needs. Typically, a complex decision-making tree provides that context; players navigate the tree by interacting with the environment and the elements that populate it. Complex scoring options and various feedback mechanisms make for a compelling game-play experience.
Ideal for: Problem solving – using procedures, applying principles, analytical skills
