Serious Games Cookbook: A beginner's guide to using and designing serious games

Matthew Whitby; Feng Mao; Katarzyna Stawarz; Shasta Marrero; Jo Lindsay Walton

doi:10.31273/978-1-911675-13-6

Serious Games Cookbook: A beginner's guide to using and designing serious games

Authors

Matthew Whitby, Department of Computer Science, University of York; Feng Mao, Institute for Global Sustainable Development, School of Cross-faculty Studies, University of Warwick; Katarzyna Stawarz, School of Computer Science and Informatics, Cardiff University; Shasta Marrero, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University; Jo Lindsay Walton, School of Media, Arts and Humanities, University of Sussex

DOI: https://doi.org/10.31273/978-1-911675-13-6

Synopsis

What is the Serious Game Cookbook?

The Serious Game Cookbook is a resource that aims to support the use and design of serious games with detailed guidance. Each section talks through major topics around the use or design of serious games, supported with tasks, questions, and multiple examples.

Everything within the Serious Game Cookbook supports the two central goals of this resource:

Provide a resource for researchers, developers, and practitioners to begin utilising or designing their own serious games.
Expand the conversation for how serious games for climate adaptation and resilience building are designed.

Who is the Cookbook for?

The GameBook acts like designerly glue between domain expertise and development. Do you have expert knowledge of climate adaptation or skills in software development, but are unsure of how to effectively use or design serious games? Then the GameBook is designed for you. By the end, beginners should better understand how to use serious games and design their own games.

What topics does the Cookbook cover?

Using Serious Games – For those who wish to utilise serious games to support their goals, this might include educators, researchers, or moderators.

Goals of Play
Selecting a Game
Game Facilitation

Designing Serious Games – For those who wish to develop a serious game, from widespread digital applications to bespoke physical board games (and everything in between).

Game Content & Themes
Mechanics is the Message
Remember the Player
Strategies for Shifting Attitudes

Author Biographies

Matthew Whitby, Department of Computer Science, University of York

Lead Author; GamEngage Research Assistant. Game & Narrative Designer, and a PhD student at the University of York.

Feng Mao, Institute for Global Sustainable Development, School of Cross-faculty Studies, University of Warwick

GamEngage Lead. Associate Professor of Global Sustainable Development at the University of Warwick. He has research interests in the intersection of water, ecosystems, society and technologies.

Katarzyna Stawarz, School of Computer Science and Informatics, Cardiff University

GamEngage Co-I and Lecturer in Human-Computer Interaction at Cardiff University

Shasta Marrero, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University

GamEngage Co-I and Lecturer in Environmental and Physical Geography at Cardiff University

Jo Lindsay Walton, School of Media, Arts and Humanities, University of Sussex

GamEngage Member and Research Fellow in Arts, Climate and Technology at University of Sussex