Presented at The Children's Media Conference, July 4, 2013. In an era of ever evolving technology, how are designers and media creators to keep up with the best practices for children’s interactive entertainment? Luckily for us, some things are universal, no matter what the platform or when the time they are applied. This session explores game design principles and the developmental psychology behind them, providing attendees with a foundation of kid-focused good design that will always ring true… even as far as 2023.

1. 10 Game Design Principles
for the Next 10 Years
Carla Fisher, Ed.D.
No Crusts Interactive

2. But isn’t claiming to know
the future as much a
faux pas as comic sans
on your business cards?

3. Luckily,
some things
are constant.

4. Kids are different
from adults.
Cognitively
and physically.
© Pragmagraphr

5. © epSos.de

7. 1. Look for inspiration
in inappropriate places
everywhere

13. 2. Foster dialogic play

17. vs

20. Hundreds

23. 3. Practice dual-premise game design

25. “Girlfriend modes”

26. Super
Mario
Galaxy

31. 4. Scaffold

32. 2

33. Zone of Proximal Development
• Pair players together based
on unequal abilities.
– The more capable tugs the
other along, encouraging
reaching the next level
© State Records NSW

34. What I can do What I can do
with help
What I can’t do
Zone of Proximal
Development
Wash hands
Pour milk
into bowl
Put cookies in ovenPour pre-measured
ingredients
Sift flour Measure ingredients
Measure ingredients
Eat cookies
(and dough)
Roll out
cookie dough
Decorate cookies
Read recipe

36. Scaffolding
• In a classroom, the teacher
– grabs the student’s attention
– creates and adjusts the task
– provides encouragement and
motivation
– highlights task features that are
most relevant to the learning goals
and the student’s abilities
– adjusts the task to moderate
frustration
– models and demonstrates the task
where needed
© nathanrussell

37. Typical Educational Game Scaffold
• 1st wrong  Encourage the player to try again
• 2nd wrong  Play short hint
• 3rd wrong  Highlight correct answer

39. Alternative Scaffolding
MotionMath

40. Sid’s
Science
Fair

41. Motion
Math
Zoom

42. 5. Embrace data.

43. U.S. Census
Bureau

44. http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/

48. The Eyeballing Game
The Eyeballing Game

49. Perfect
Slice

50. 6. Provide real-time, contextualized feedback

51. Real-Time Feedback
• Feedback loop between
student & teacher, often with
technology
• Teacher strategy to review
student work repeatedly and
adjusting the instruction
accordingly
• Variations include
– Just in Time Instruction
– Computer-Assisted Instruction
© nSeika

52. Parent dashboards and
progress reporting

53. Plants vs Zombies

54. Accumulate
8,000 sun
during a
single
level.

56. 7. Use achievements to
motivate new ways of playing

57. 8. Be different.

61. Standing Out
• Avoid crowded content areas unless you’re
really, truly, completely, 100% different
– or have a ton of money
– or are Disney 
• Do your homework to find gaps in the market

62. 9. Create
distributed
learning
opportunities

65. 10. Test early. Test often. Adjust.
Repeat.

66. 11. Foster discovery
and curiosity.

70. MyRobotFriend

71. Scribblenauts

72. Minecraft

73. Minecraft.Print()

74. Makey Makey

75. Thanks!
• carla@NoCrusts.com
• @NoCrusts
• Kids Got Game blog
on Kidscreen.com