1) The document analyzes the educational elements in the classic games Super Mario Bros. and Math Blaster by reverse engineering their designs. 2) It finds that both games support trial and error learning through status displays, action feedback, and choices, but differ in how closely these elements are tied to learning objectives versus gameplay. 3) The document concludes by discussing implications and next steps for using insights from these popular games to better design instructional games.

1. Battle of the Titans: Katrin Becker University of Calgary September 2006 vs

2. REMEMBER : Table of findings

3. Overview 1. Why Do This? 8. Next Steps 7. What I Learned 6. Game Play Experience 2. How? 3. What is a “good” game? 4. Why these games? 5. The Games Mario / Math Blaster

4. 0. Introduction Games teach. People learn from games. Are Games Educational? (I don’t care)

5. 0b. What are the Questions? What must be learned to get through this game? How does this game facilitate that learning?

6. 1. Why Do This? Ultimate goal: Design good instructional games (GIG) Teach people how design GIG IF good games teach, then we can learn how by studying the masters.

7. 2. How To Do This? (methodology) Most good games were not designed to be educational….. at least not on purpose. SO, their designs are not framed in educational terms. BUT, to design instructional games, we need that……

8. 2. How To Do This? (methodology) One Answer: PRETEND it was designed that way. Can re-capture design through reverse engineering.

9. 3. What is a “good” game? Popular: good sales (really good) Critical acclaim That makes it good because: - don’t get awards & sustained sales if the game is frustrating; no fun; too easy; too hard; annoying; too predictable…..

10. 4. Why these Games? All the teachers love Math Blaster (don’t ask the kids…..) Mario Same genre & style Small console (handicapped graphics & power) Good Game

11. 5a. The Games: Mario

12. 5b. The Games: Math Blaster

13. 6a. Playing Mario

16. 1

17. 1-1

18. 1-1

19. 1-1

20. 1-1

21. 1-2

22. 1-3

23. 1-3

24. 1-toad

25. 1-4

26. 1-*

27. 1-A

28. 1-*

29. 2-1

30. 2-2

31. 3-C

33. D

34. Field

35. 6b. Playing Math Blaster

57. 7. What I Learned Similar learning requirements. Obstacles are arbitrary. Differences in graphics/sound/animation not central (although play a role). Learning Mode is trial and error. Game vs Learning elements learning elements arbitrary

58. 7-1. Supporting Trail and Error Status Displays Action Feedback Choice

59. Summary of Findings Status Displays Obviously tied to gameplay Persistent, running Always shows % completed, lives left, power-ups, points. Action Feedback Every interaction associated with a sound – collisions, hits, inaccessible paths. Shooting goombas makes them go away. Choice All courses repeatable any time. Each ‘world’ is different. “ Game over” and lost life returns you to main map. Status Displays Tied to learning objectives Summary, after course Never shows progress except shield strength. Action Feedback Some interactions associated with a sound – right & wrong answer sounds very similar. Shooting robots slows them but has no other effect. Choice Single path through courses – only choice is equation set. Paths and ‘worlds’ are same for each set. Loss of shield power returns you to beginning of course. Mario MathBlaster

60. 7-2. Supporting Trail and Error Status Displays

61. 7-2. Supporting Trail and Error Status Displays

62. 7-3. Supporting Trail and Error Action Feedback

63. 7-3. Supporting Trail and Error Action Feedback

64. 7-4. Supporting Trail and Error Choice

65. 7-4. Supporting Trail and Error Choice

66. 8. Next Steps (or, so now what?)

67. Image / sound Credits: Super Mario Bros. http://www.gamespot.com http://www.gamespy.cim http://www.ign.com http://mario.nintendo.com/ http://marioevolution.free.fr http://www.infendo.com http://forums.nintendo.com/ Sound captures from http:// mario.nintendo.com / by SoundForge 4.5 Math Blaster K. Becker (screen captures by Screen Shot Deluxe 7.0 http://www.broderbund.com/ ) Sound captures by SoundForge 4.5 Nintendo DS http://www.nintendo.com/ http://www.gameinformer.com Monitor Screen http://www.hp.com