The Educational Power of Games:
The Production and Evaluation of
Japan’s first “Serious Game Jam”
Yoshihiro Kishimoto
Koji Mikami
Toru Fujimoto
Kenji Ono
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Introduction
2
Yoshihiro Kishimoto
Tokyo University of Technology
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Introduction
3
The Educational Power of Games:
The Production and Evaluation of
Japan’s first “Serious Game Jam”
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Introduction
4
Where am I from ?
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Introduction
5
Japan
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Introduction
6
Tokyo
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Introduction
7
40km west of Central Tokyo
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Introduction
8
Tokyo University of Technology
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Introduction
9
Please take a moment to remember
when you were an elementary
or junior high school student.
- Did you enjoy your classes?
- Were there any classes that you didn’t like?
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Introduction
10
In Japan, many students dislike learning
English.
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Introduction
11
In fact, I don’t really like learning English
myself.
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Introduction
My associates and I thought,
“Is there a way to use games to help students
enjoy English?”
12
We decided to research this.
I will present our findings to you today.
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Introduction
13
• Japan’s first “Serious Game Jam”
• Theme: English Learning Games
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

What is a “Serious Game?”
14
• A game made to help society
• Used in many fields
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Serious Games in Japan
15
• Not very popular in Japan
• No places to exchange ideas about serious
games
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

What is a “Game Jam?”
16
• Event for developers and students to make
games
• Generally have a theme
• Teams are random
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Game Jams in Japan
17
• Global Game Jam and Fukushima Game
Jam are popular in Japan
• Serious games are rarely made
• We decided to change that by making our
own Game Jam
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Japan’s first “Serious Game Jam”
• Goal: help with research/visibility of serious
games
18
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Japan’s first “Serious Game Jam”
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• 14 professionals and 21 students
participated
• 5 games made over 2 days
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Japan’s first “Serious Game Jam”
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5 teams
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Japan’s first “Serious Game Jam”
21
5 games
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Japan’s first “Serious Game Jam”
22
“Riddles in Pieces”
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Japan’s first “Serious Game Jam”
23
“Bizarre! Mystery of the English Troops”
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Japan’s first “Serious Game Jam”
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"Alpha! Beta! Collector!"
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Japan’s first “Serious Game Jam”
25
"Word Bridge"
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Japan’s first “Serious Game Jam”
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“Big Big Dragon”
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Japan’s first “Serious Game Jam”
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• Students tested the games and gave
feedback
• Feedback was implemented before
publishing
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Japan’s first “Serious Game Jam”
Video of the event
（1:06）
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=576
688249082664&set=o.1392487234342662&t
ype=2&theater
28
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Five Important Features
29
• Concept sheet contest
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Five Important Features
30
• Participants chose the game they worked
on
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

five important features
31
• Feedback from experts and students
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

five important features
32
• Participants did not stay overnight at the
event
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

five important features
33
• Preparation in advance
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Conclusions
34
• Everyone enjoyed themselves
• Spread the idea of serious games
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

The Future
35
• Many participants said they would like to
participate in future Serious Game Jams.
• We hope to continue holding Serious Game
Jams for many years to come.
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Riddles in Pieces
36
Game Video (0:34)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=012yOa
b8bxM&feature=youtu.be
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Riddles in Pieces
37
Impression of an English education expert:
“The game has beautiful graphics and an
interesting story. There is a charm to interest
children.”
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Riddles in Pieces
38
Impression of a high school student:
"I enjoyed the graphics and story. I can
review with it. I could beat it on my own.”
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Riddles in Pieces
39
Impression of an elementary school student:
"There was some English that I didn’t know,
but I could still progress in the game."
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Riddles in Pieces
40
Riddles in pieces Search
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO
kishimotoy@stf.teu.ac.jp
The Educational Power of Games:
The Production and Evaluation of
Japan’s first “Serious Game Jam”
Kishi Bear
22th Aug,2014 at 2nd International Japan Game Studies Conference Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO