Training scenarios and simulations can be powerful for learning. They give people an opportunity for realistic practice in an environment where it’s safe to experiment and learn from mistakes. But they are, admittedly, more complex to envision and build than a linear eLearning course. Thankfully, when it comes to figuring out how to get them right, there’s no reason we need to start from scratch. That’s because another field has been innovating in this space for decades: video games. In this session you’ll uncover the practical lessons video games can teach us about creating effective simulations and branched scenarios. You’ll get advice on how to make player decisions have real weight, why strong writing is your most powerful asset, how to streamline development without weakening the experience, and how to use fun to enhance (instead of distract from) learning. Whether you’re an experienced gamer or someone who hasn’t picked up a controller since you were a kid, there’s lots anyone can take from this session to make their scenarios more enjoyable and useful for their learners. And it’ll also give you a great excuse to pick up a few new games in the name of “work research.”

1. What
Video Games
Effective
Can Teach L&D
About Crafting
Scenarios
& Sims

2. What’s your experience with video games?
1
I don’t play video games
or haven’t played them
since I was a kid
2 I only play them socially
with friends and family
3 I play the occasional
game here and there
4 I play games regularly

3. I’ve been playing
video games
for the majority of my life…

4. …so when I started creating
training scenarios,
it was impossible not to see
the similarities!

5. So why wonder how to make
when we can just learn from
an industry that already knows
how to do this right!
engaging scenarios
and simulations

6. Data Dash

7. Writing

8. A compelling plot trumps
high-end graphics

9. Lifeline

10. Be thoughtful about what you
can and can’t simplify

11. SimCity

12. Plague Inc

13. Dialogue should
sound conversational*

15. Resident Evil

16. Characters shouldn’t all
talk the same way

17. Scarlet
Hollow

18. Choices

19. Make early choices
low stakes

20. Mini Metro

21. Not all choices have to
lead to new branches

22. DECISION
1 2 3

23. DECISION
1 2 3
DECISION
1 2 3
DECISION
1 2 3
DECISION
1 2 3

24. DECISION
1 2 3
DECISION
1 2 3
DECISION
1 2 3
DECISION
1 2 3
DECISION
1 2 3
DECISION
1 2 3
DECISION
1 2 3
DECISION
1 2 3
DECISION
1 2 3
DECISION
1 2 3
DECISION
1 2 3
DECISION
1 2 3
DECISION
1 2 3

25. Telltale’s The
Walking Dead

26. Look for times you can…
Give options, but not branch at all afterwards
Have multiple answers lead to the same branch
Merge branches back into each other

27. It’s okay to offer all bad
(or all good) options

28. Spent

29. Don’t make it more fun
to make bad choices

30. SimCity

31. Past choices can unlock
additional options later

32. One Night,
Hot Springs

33. Gameplay

34. Consider difficulty
and flow state

35. Flow State
Player Ability
Task
Difficulty
HIGH
LOW
HIGH
Painfully
bored
Throwing your
controller at
the wall

36. Hades

37. Papers, Please

38. It’s less fun when the
right decision is obvious

40. Flow State
Player Ability
Task
Difficulty
HIGH
LOW
HIGH Throwing your
controller at
the wall
Painfully
bored

41. Consider how you can
give subtle feedback

43. Other options include…
Health Bar
Points/Coins
Body Language
Responses
On-Screen Effects
Subtle Text

44. Time limits can
mimic stress

45. Keep Talking and
Nobody Explodes

46. Time limit tips
Don’t use them just because you can
Ensure the limit is realistic
Consider easy (or no) limits at first
Remember accessibility!

47. Make it both easy and
worthwhile to replay

48. Erica

49. Overboard!

50. Making Your Own
Observations

51. Questions to ask yourself
What’s motivating me to keep playing?
What makes me care about the scenario?
What’s pulling me in or out of flow state?
What do I like/hate about the game mechanics and UI?

52. So get out there
and get gaming!

53. BWoods@Articulate.com
Slide Deck