Dr. Jacob Habgood Head of Serious Games © 2009 Sumo Digital Limited Wii Don’t do “Edutainment”!

Sumo Digital Limited: “ Work for hire” Console Developer SEGA, Konami, Sony (Xbox, 360, PS3, Wii, DS, PSP). Around 120 developers in Sheffield. Heritage going back to Gremlin Graphics in the 80’s. Foundation 9 Group Around 900 developers worldwide. Just who are Wii?

Sumo Digital Limited:

“ Work for hire” Console Developer

SEGA, Konami, Sony (Xbox, 360, PS3, Wii, DS, PSP).

Around 120 developers in Sheffield.

Heritage going back to Gremlin Graphics in the 80’s.

Foundation 9 Group

Around 900 developers worldwide.

Personal Background Industry & Academia: Gremlin / Infogrames / Atari Hogs of War, MicroMachines, Actua Sports. Programmer / Technical Lead (PSX, PS2, Xbox, GC) . Ph.D. in Learning Sciences LSRI, University of Nottingham. “ The Effective Integration of Digital Games and Learning Content” ( www.zombiedivision.co.uk ). Head of Serious Games “ The Game Maker’s Apprentice”. Game Development tools for Kids (Game Maker). But no explicit “learning” products… yet.

Industry & Academia:

Gremlin / Infogrames / Atari

Hogs of War, MicroMachines, Actua Sports.

Programmer / Technical Lead (PSX, PS2, Xbox, GC) .

Ph.D. in Learning Sciences

LSRI, University of Nottingham.

“ The Effective Integration of Digital Games and Learning Content” ( www.zombiedivision.co.uk ).

Head of Serious Games

“ The Game Maker’s Apprentice”.

Game Development tools for Kids (Game Maker).

But no explicit “learning” products… yet.

Learning Showcase Work for Hire: Console-based Learning “ Edutainment” products are trickling onto consoles. Often developed by smaller developers to make ends meet while chasing the big publishing deal. Not necessarily any expertise or passion for learning. Sumo: Serious about Learning Large console developer, great track-record : large publishers beat a path to our door. Passion and expertise for game-based learning. Perfectly positioned to branch into learning-based console products. Showcase Game Self-funded WiiWare title: “Outnumbered”.

Work for Hire:

Console-based Learning

“ Edutainment” products are trickling onto consoles.

Often developed by smaller developers to make ends meet while chasing the big publishing deal.

Not necessarily any expertise or passion for learning.

Sumo: Serious about Learning

Large console developer, great track-record : large publishers beat a path to our door.

Passion and expertise for game-based learning.

Perfectly positioned to branch into learning-based console products.

Showcase Game

Self-funded WiiWare title: “Outnumbered”.

Design Philosophy Anti-Edutainment: Intrinsic Integration (Kafai, 2001) Extrinsic “chocolate-covered broccoli” approaches to integrating games and learning do not work. Modern example: Questionaut by Amanita Design ( Award-winning web game designers). More integrated approaches could be more effective.

Anti-Edutainment:

Intrinsic Integration (Kafai, 2001)

Extrinsic “chocolate-covered broccoli” approaches to integrating games and learning do not work.

Modern example: Questionaut by Amanita Design ( Award-winning web game designers).

More integrated approaches could be more effective.

Research Evidence Zombie Division: Controlled Trials Results Intrinsic games are more motivating than extrinsic games (as measured by time-on-task). Intrinsic games are more effective than extrinsic games (as measured by learning gains). Intrinsic Skeletons = Dividends Weapons = Divisors Extrinsic Skeletons = Symbols + Extrinsic Q&A Control Skeletons = Symbols

Zombie Division:

Controlled Trials

Results

Intrinsic games are more motivating than extrinsic games (as measured by time-on-task).

Intrinsic games are more effective than extrinsic games (as measured by learning gains).

Intrinsic Skeletons = Dividends Weapons = Divisors

Extrinsic Skeletons = Symbols + Extrinsic Q&A

Control Skeletons = Symbols

Design Philosophy Maths-Based Game for WiiWare: Intrinsically Integrated Deliver learning content alongside, and in tandem with the flow experience of the game. Integrate the learning content within the structure of the gaming world and its core-mechanics. Unpatronising and Unapologetic Kids are aspirational: so design for big ones. Safe is dull – zombies/monsters/explosions are fun. Does Not Try to “Make Maths Fun”! Maths is simply a medium. All games are about learning something. The fact that this happens to be maths should be almost entirely irrelevant to the player.

Maths-Based Game for WiiWare:

Intrinsically Integrated

Deliver learning content alongside, and in tandem with the flow experience of the game.

Integrate the learning content within the structure of the gaming world and its core-mechanics.

Unpatronising and Unapologetic

Kids are aspirational: so design for big ones.

Safe is dull – zombies/monsters/explosions are fun.

Does Not Try to “Make Maths Fun”!

Maths is simply a medium.

All games are about learning something.

The fact that this happens to be maths should be almost entirely irrelevant to the player.

Pedagogy Interconnected Mathematics: Learning Content Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division. Conceptual and Procedural Knowledge Should be developed alongside each other (Rittle-Johnson, Siegler & Alibali, 2001). Beyond Rote Learning Embodies the meaningful relationships between knowledge essential for understanding (Hiebert & Lefevre, 1986). Anchored Instruction Successful mathematics teaching needs to be grounded in “real world” situations (Greer, 1992). Real world “anchors” (Brandsford et al, 1990).

Interconnected Mathematics:

Learning Content

Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division.

Conceptual and Procedural Knowledge

Should be developed alongside each other (Rittle-Johnson, Siegler & Alibali, 2001).

Beyond Rote Learning

Embodies the meaningful relationships between knowledge essential for understanding (Hiebert & Lefevre, 1986).

Anchored Instruction

Successful mathematics teaching needs to be grounded in “real world” situations (Greer, 1992).

Real world “anchors” (Brandsford et al, 1990).

Outnumbered Basic Concept: Maths can be fatal – especially if you’re a monster! Attach your brain to your wand-arm and get ready to cause some serious mayhem as you defend your wizard’s home against an army of magical beasts…

Basic Concept:

Maths can be fatal – especially if you’re a monster!

Attach your brain to your wand-arm and get ready to cause some serious mayhem as you defend your wizard’s home against an army of magical beasts…

Outnumbered Screen Layout

Screen Layout

Outnumbered Core Mechanics: “ Mechanism through which players make meaningful choices and arrive at a meaningful play experience” (Salen & Zimmerman, 2004). Core Mechanic 1: “Playing with Goo” Magical mana comes in two flavours. Monsters are made of bad mana while wizard’s towers attract good mana. Bad mana can be neutralised with good. Monsters die when you reduce their bad mana exactly down to zero. Overshooting makes all the good mana fall off the monster.

Core Mechanics:

“ Mechanism through which players make meaningful choices and arrive at a meaningful play experience” (Salen & Zimmerman, 2004).

Core Mechanic 1: “Playing with Goo”

Magical mana comes in two flavours.

Monsters are made of bad mana while wizard’s towers attract good mana.

Bad mana can be neutralised with good.

Monsters die when you reduce their bad mana exactly down to zero.

Overshooting makes all the good mana fall off the monster.

Outnumbered Core Mechanics: Core Mechanic 2: “Monster Grow Bags” Create your own good monsters. Drop mana onto a monster grow bag and it will form its own “good” cloud. Fill it up to the desired value of good mana. Grab the cloud to pull the monster from the earth. The good monster will defeat any bad monster of equal value in its path AND take out any other monsters standing behind it.

Core Mechanics:

Core Mechanic 2: “Monster Grow Bags”

Create your own good monsters.

Drop mana onto a monster grow bag and it will form its own “good” cloud.

Fill it up to the desired value of good mana.

Grab the cloud to pull the monster from the earth.

The good monster will defeat any bad monster of equal value in its path AND take out any other monsters standing behind it.

Outnumbered Progression: At the beginning of the game: Throwing Goo = Subtraction. Growing Monsters = Addition. Mixing colours of goo is fine. Progressing to PURE EVIL: Monsters which are pure evil can only be defeated by pure good mana – i.e. a single colour of goo. Now : Throwing Goo = Division by repeated subtraction. Growing Monsters = Multiplication by repeated addition.

Progression:

At the beginning of the game:

Throwing Goo = Subtraction.

Growing Monsters = Addition.

Mixing colours of goo is fine.

Progressing to PURE EVIL:

Monsters which are pure evil can only be defeated by pure good mana – i.e. a single colour of goo.

Now :

Throwing Goo = Division by repeated subtraction.

Growing Monsters = Multiplication by repeated addition.

Outnumbered Core Mechanics: Core Mechanic 3: “Divide and Conquer” Repeated subtraction is a slow way to divide. Magic can speed that up. Any value of blob can be powered up to become a divisor. Magic blobs kill monsters instantly (provided that they divide!) Fire Ice Lightning

Core Mechanics:

Core Mechanic 3: “Divide and Conquer”

Repeated subtraction is a slow way to divide.

Magic can speed that up.

Any value of blob can be powered up to become a divisor.

Magic blobs kill monsters instantly (provided that they divide!)

Core Mechanics: Divisor Relationships: Core Mechanic 4: “Multiplying Monsters” Repeated addition is a slow way to multiply. Magic can speed that up. The result is always “pure” good. Outnumbered 2, 4 &8 3, 6 &9 5 & 10 7

Core Mechanics:

Divisor Relationships:

Core Mechanic 4: “Multiplying Monsters”

Repeated addition is a slow way to multiply.

Magic can speed that up.

The result is always “pure” good.

Outnumbered Emergent Gameplay: Core Mechanics: Throwing Goo = (Repeated) Subtraction. Growing Monsters = (Repeated) Addition. Dividing Monsters = Division. Multiplying Mana = Multiplication. Mixing Mechanics: Pure Evil / Pure Good. Monster Immunity (Red, Blue, Yellow). Subtract -> Divide / Multiply -> Add. (23 – 2) / 3 “ Smart Bombs” End of Level Bosses – multiple clouds

Emergent Gameplay:

Core Mechanics:

Throwing Goo = (Repeated) Subtraction.

Growing Monsters = (Repeated) Addition.

Dividing Monsters = Division.

Multiplying Mana = Multiplication.

Mixing Mechanics:

Pure Evil / Pure Good.

Monster Immunity (Red, Blue, Yellow).

Subtract -> Divide / Multiply -> Add.

(23 – 2) / 3

“ Smart Bombs”

End of Level Bosses – multiple clouds

Outnumbered Difficulty Level: Gameplay Difficulty: Standard gameplay progression: Speed, quantity, strength, visual cues. Same for every player. Mathematical Difficulty: Cognitive Model: Tracks use of key domain concepts. Varies difficulty accordingly. Different experience for every player. Additional replay value.

Difficulty Level:

Gameplay Difficulty:

Standard gameplay progression:

Speed, quantity, strength, visual cues.

Same for every player.

Mathematical Difficulty:

Cognitive Model:

Tracks use of key domain concepts.

Varies difficulty accordingly.

Different experience for every player.

Additional replay value.

Outnumbered Wii Demo Around 50% Complete:

Wii Demo

Around 50% Complete:

Any questions? Release Coming to WiiWare Summer 2009 500-1000 Wii Points (£3.50 - £7.00) Outnumbered

Release

Coming to WiiWare Summer 2009

500-1000 Wii Points (£3.50 - £7.00)