Serious Games:
Present & Future
BY TOM CRAWFORD
CEO, VIZTHINK
SEPTEMBER 25, 2007

Agenda
 Definitions
 Who are Gamers?
 Why use Serious Games?
 What are the Current State of Serious Games?
 What is the Future of Serious Games?
 What Resources are Available?
 Q&A

A Few Definitions
 Video Game – Console, computer, or handheld game
 Console Game – Played on a dedicated gaming device and
displayed on a TV
 Computer Game – Played on a PC (or Mac), and displayed on a
computer monitor
 Handheld Game – Played on a very portable, dedicated gaming
device and displayed on a built in screen

A Few Definitions
 Video Game – Console, computer, or handheld game
 Casual Game – A game that is easy to start, can be
quick to play, and generally does not have a
metaphorical abstraction
 Serious Game – A game or simulation of any type
used for learning or communication.
 Game – competition? goals? rules? fun? learning? I
know it when I see it?

Are YOU a Gamer?
When did you last play…
a game…any game?

a video game?

a console game?

a casual game?

a serious game?

When did you last buy…
a game…any game?

a video game?

How would you describe the typical gamer?

Who are Gamers? Are You Sure?
What is the average age of game players?
Greater
than 49
24.2%
33
18 to 49
47.6%
Less than 18
28.2%
Source: Entertainment Software Association

Who are Gamers? Are You Sure?
What percentage are female?
Women over 18?
31%
38%
Male, 62%
Female, 38%
Boys under 18?
20%
Source: Entertainment Software Association

Who are Gamers? Are You Sure?
Are gamers lazy, anti-social slackers?
 93% read books or newspapers regularly
 79% of all ages exercise at least 20 hrs/month
 78% vote regularly
 Gamers spend triple the time on
sports, community, religion, creative, cultural, and
reading compared to non-gamers
Source: Entertainment Software Association

Who are Gamers? Are You Sure?
 What is the average age of game buyers?
 40 years old
 Who plays more hours per week adult men or adult
women?
Women = 7.4 hours/week

Men = 7.6 hours/week

 How do they expect that to change?
 53% expect to play as much or more in 10 years
Source: Entertainment Software Association

Who are Gamers? Are You Sure?
Source: eMarketer.com

What Games Do They Play?
Best Selling Console Games of 2006
Madden NFL 07 - PS2 Final Fantasy XII - PS2
1. 6.
New Super Mario Bros - NDS Brain Age - NDS
2. 7.
Gears of War - 360 Madden NFL 07 - 360
3. 8.
Kingdom Hearts II - PS2 Tom Clancy's GRAW - 360
4. 9.
Guitar Hero 2 - PS2 10. NCAA Football 07 - PS2
5.
All Ages Games
Sports & Racing Games
Youth Games Action/Shooter Games

Why Use Serious Games?
 Practice (Learning by Doing)
Martin, Klein, Sullivan from Arizona State

Objectives, Information, Examples, Review, Practice
 Repetition/Habit
William James

 In a realistic, time compressed, risk free
environment
 Freedom of movement leads to retention
Itiel Dror


Why Use Serious Games?
 Progressive competency
Source: T. Crawford concepts by J. Gee

Why Use Serious Games?
 Telling your own story leads to ownership
Jim Gee, David Shaffer

Source: Halo, Indiana Jones, Project Gotham Racing 3

Why Use Serious Games?
 Theory of Transfer
Source: T. Crawford

Current Uses: Cooking Skills
Source: Cooking Mama 2

Current Uses: Biology
Source: Zoo Tycoon 2

Current Uses: History
Source: Civilization III (K. Squire), Revolution (mod)

Current Uses: Thinking
Source: Reader Rabbit, Math Blaster, Brain Age

Current Uses: Political Statement
Source: Persuasive Games

Current Uses: Social Causes

Current Uses: Social Causes
Source: Food Force

Current Uses: Health
Source: +???, Persuasive Games

Current Uses: Health
Source: Dance Dance Revolution, Yourself Fitness!

Current Uses: Health
Source: EdHeads, +???, Breakaway Games

Current Uses: Simulations
 Enspire
 NexLearn
 Forio
 Adobe Captivate
 BTS
Source: Enspire, NexLearn, Forio

Current Uses: Retail Training

Current Uses: Machinima
 The Movies
 The Ill Clan
 Red vs. Blue
Source: The Movies

Current Uses: Other Serious Games
 Game Shows, Quizzes
Marc Prensky’s Challenge Game

 Classroom Jeopardy
 Metaphors for Practice
Dr. Jim Rosser’s Super Monkey Ball

Source: Games2Train, Classroom Jeopardy, Super Monkey Ball

Future Uses: Alternative Devices
Source: Nintendo Wii, Wii Bowling, Guitar Hero 2

Future Uses: ARGs & Geo Games
 I Love Bees
 Lost Experience
 World Without Oil
 Pac-Manhattan
 Tourality
 Sidewalk Squirrel
 Geocaching

Future Uses: Virtual Worlds
Source: Created by T. O’Driscoll, Revised by T. Crawford

Future Uses: Virtual Worlds
Source: ProtonMedia

Future Uses: Virtual Worlds
Source: Second Life

Future Uses: Visual Realism
Source: Madden Football 2007, Madden Football circ. 1998

Other Topics
 Debate: Serious Games are Neither Serious Nor
Games
Debate: Should the Word Game be Used

Debate: What is a Game Anyway?

Debate: Do Games Have to be Fun?

Advergaming


What Books are Available?
 Required Reading
 Theory of Fun
 Hamlet on the Holodeck
 What Video Games Have to Teach Us
 Why Video Games are Good for Your Soul
 How Computer Games Help Children Learn
 Digital Game-Based Learning
 Gadgets, Games, and Gizmos for Learning
 Persuasive Games
 Got Game
 Interactive Storytelling

What Websites are Available?
http://www.raphkoster.com

 http://jergames.blogspot.com
 http://www.watercoolergames.org
 http://blogoehlert.typepad.com/eclippings
 http://www.escapistmagazine.com
 http://www.joystiq.com
 http://games.slashdot.org
 http://www.seriousgames.org
 http://www.educationarcade.org
 http://terranova.blogs.com
 http://www.socialimpactgames.com
 http://www.digra.org
 http://www.persuasivegames.com

Q&A

Contact Information
Tom Crawford
CEO, VizThink
thcrawford@thcrawford.com
http://thcrawford.blogspot.com
tcrawford@vizthink.com
http://www.vizthink.com
VizThink ’08
January 27-29, 2008
San Francisco, CA