Serious Games Interactive (Denmark)

This study explores the intersection of serious games and geogames in cybersecurity (CS) and disaster management (DM), examining implementations and applications at this convergence. Through a systematic review of 100 games (53 for cybersecurity and 47 for disaster management), it analyzes their genres, learning objectives, spatial features, target audience, and publishing contexts. The results reveal that while both domains heavily utilize simulation, cybersecurity games tend to emphasize individual awareness through puzzles and quizzes, whereas disaster management games prioritize systemic thinking and collaboration via strategy and role-playing. The key finding of this study is the underutilization of geospatial elements in cybersecurity games, despite their relevance for critical infrastructure protection. In contrast, disaster management games often embed spatial thinking as a core mechanic. This gap highlights an opportunity to develop “cybergeogames” that integrate geographic data and spatial reasoning to simulate real-world cyber-physical threats. The paper calls for a new generation of serious geogames that bridge digital and physical domains to enhance preparedness for complex, location-bound disruptions.

O uso de jogos, especificamente serious game, como uma ferramenta de aprendizado e ensino na educação tecnológica tem atraído a atenção de várias iniciativas em cursos de computação. Esse interesse se deve principalmente às vantagens que uma ferramenta atraente oferece para envolver os alunos em seu aprendizado. No entanto, o uso de serious games exige cautela, atenção e dedicação dos desenvolvedores para garantir que a ferramenta proporcione ganhos efetivos. Esta dissertação explora a aplicação de serious games no ensino superior de computação, avaliando modelos, métodos e metamodelos para orientar o desenvolvimento de jogos de maneira eficiente e com embasamento científico. Com base em conceitos construtivistas, a metodologia apresentada, chamada COMBO (Ciclo Ordenado Modular Baseado em Oportunidades), orientará projetos futuros envolvendo a aplicação de jogos como ferramentas de aprendizado. O objetivo é promover a educação tecnológica e atender às diversas necessidades de aprendizado em estudos de computação para um público adulto e diversificado, incluindo estudantes universitários. Isso leva em consideração os desafios e dificuldades que os desenvolvedores enfrentam atualmente, como o engajamento e o aprendizado. Um estudo inicial foi conduzido por meio de uma revisão de literatura, permitindo a avaliação do cenário do uso de serious game. Isso permitiu observar não apenas a aplicação desses jogos, mas também as falhas mais comuns durante o uso dos mesmos. A metodologia COMBO, projetada para o desenvolvimento de serious games para o ensino superior de computação, foi elaborada e permitiu a criação do jogo Star Owners, demonstrando a eficiência da metodologia. Seguindo essa metodologia, este jogo foi introduzido em uma disciplina de Teoria da Computação, permitindo a análise de dados com o objetivo de avaliar os resultados de aprendizado com base no feedback dos alunos, o que resultou em retornos positivos. Os resultados apresentados neste documento foram positivos para o uso da COMBO como uma ferramenta para o desenvolvimento, aplicação e análise de serious games no aprendizado de computação.

Cet article illustre de façon concrète et détournée les relations villes-campagnes. Les circuits courts alimentaires sont considérés comme vertueux (réduction des intermédiaires et des distances, « locavorisme »), mais qu’en est-il vraiment de leur durabilité, compte-tenu de leur complexité logistique ? Pour le producteur, premier maillon de la chaîne, la commercialisation et le transport représentent travail et coûts supplémentaires. Les circuits courts ne sont pas moins énergivores : flux entre fermes et points de vente fragmentés en une multitude de petits volumes. L’auteur propose plusieurs formes d’organisation pour pallier à ces inconvénients : mutualiser le transport entre producteurs partenaires et promouvoir une coopération logistique territoriale, consolider le transfert de flux en le déléguant à un prestataire extérieur. L’enjeu de la logistique et le rôle des intermédiaires non commerciaux sont clé.

The article describes an implementation of the idea to cognitively activate students in the break of a demanding university class by brief, moderate intensity physical activity. The article's primary contribution is a categorized list of suitable games. The article is based on the author's participant-observations of activity breaks in an introductory programming course for game designers. The data have been collected in seven iterations of the course over six years. Most of the games selected and facilitated by the students in the activity break are well-known and only mildly competitive children's games. The most popular games are reaction games; followed by running/tagging and throwing/hitting games. Games are regularly modified if they do not feature enough movement or opportunity for the participation of enough players.

AimTo explore the outcomes of testing an analogue game to incorporate person‐centredness and peer dialogues in group‐based diabetes education targeting people with diabetes.DesignRealist evaluation using quantitative and qualitative methods to explore context, mechanisms and outcomes of the intervention.MethodsIn March–July 2019, the game was tested among 76 people with type 2 diabetes and 17 professionals in 19 settings across nine Danish municipalities. Data consisted of game tests, interviews and questionnaires. Data were analysed using systematic text condensation and descriptive statistics.ResultsOutcomes of using the game were as follows: (a) a playful atmosphere; (b) active engagement; c) reflections on diabetes‐specific experiences; (d) focused dialogues; (e) professionals gaining insight into the needs of participants; and (f) professionals experiencing peer dialogue as important to incorporate into education. Questionnaire responses showed that 92% people with diabetes and 94% professionals found that the game incorporated person‐centredness and peer dialogues into education.

The sustainable governance of water resources relies on processes of multi-stakeholder collaborations and interactions that facilitate knowledge co-creation and social learning. Governance systems are often fragmented, forming a barrier to adequately addressing the myriad of challenges affecting water resources, including climate change, increased urbanized populations, and pollution. Transitions towards sustainable water governance will likely require innovative learning partnerships between public, private, and civil society stakeholders. It is essential that such partnerships involve vertical and horizontal communication of ideas and knowledge, and an enabling and democratic environment characterized by informal and open discourse. There is increasing interest in learning-based transitions. Thus far, much scholarly thinking and, to a lesser degree, empirical research has gone into understanding the potential impact of social learning on multi-stakeholder settings. The question of whether such learning can be supported by forms of serious gaming has hardly been asked. This Special Issue critically explores the potential of serious games to support multi-stakeholder social learning and collaborations in the context of water governance. Serious games may involve simulations of real-world events and processes and are challenge players to solve contemporary societal problems; they, therefore, have a purpose beyond entertainment. They offer a largely untapped potential to support social learning and collaboration by facilitating access to and the exchange of knowledge and information, enhancing stakeholder interactions, empowering a wider audience to participate in decision making, and providing opportunities to test and analyze the outcomes of policies and management solutions. Little is known about how game-based approaches can be used in the context of collaborative water governance to maximize their potential for social learning. While several studies have reported examples of serious games, there is comparably less research about how to assess the impacts of serious games on social learning and transformative change.

This chapter describes the Playmakers in the Maldives project, a collaborative work made for the Maldives Exodus Caravan Show at the 55th Venice Biennale. The project involved ten international game designers collaborating with the Maldivian communities and individuals to create games and play events in the public spaces of the Maldivian capital island Male. We present the games developed and describe some of the issues that we faced during the project.

Abstract Research in Serious Games (SG), as a whole, faces two main challenges in understanding the transition between the instructional design and actual game design implementation and documenting an evidence-based mapping of game design patterns onto relevant pedagogical patterns. From a practical perspective, this transition lacks methodology and requires a leap of faith from a prospective customer in the ability of a SG developer to deliver a game that will achieve the desired learning outcomes. A series of workshops were thus conducted to present and apply a preliminary exposition though a purpose-processing methodology to probe various SG design aspects, in particular how serious game design patterns map with pedagogical practices. The objective was to encourage dialogue and debate on core assumptions and emerging challenges to help develop robust methods and strategies to better SG design and its interconnectedness with pedagogy.KeywordsGame mechanicsLearning mechanicsLudo-pedagogy mappingPedagogically-driven game designPatterns

Serious gaming for health benefits is moving out of the realm of being potentially interesting, and the authors are starting to see a growing maturity in the field. This study of six serious gaming projects based either wholly or partly in Denmark investigates the changes taking place in the healthcare area based on experiences with serious gaming projects, the likely development of the field, and the lessons which have been learned in the area of designing to overcome barriers which exist at various levels and throughout the delivery chain. This is done from the perspective of developers and service providers, primarily using interview and game analysis techniques. The results indicate a growing maturity amongst service providers in a number of key areas, such as understanding of the most appropriate uses of games, designing for usability, and a better understanding of the process of making a successful game for health. There is a clear expectation that games will continue to diversify and penetrate the health space, while at the same time many are looking to developments in the United States as a primary driver for uptake in Europe. There are high hopes for the mobile/app area, and a number of interesting cross-disciplinary initiatives are identified.

During pregnancy, cycles of hypoxia and oxidative stress play a key role in the proper development of the fetus. Hypoxia during the first weeks is crucial for placental development, while the increase in oxygen due to the influx of maternal blood stimulates endothelial growth and angiogenesis. However, an imbalance in the number of oxidative molecules due to endogenous or exogenous factors can overwhelm defense systems and lead to excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Many pregnancy complications, generated by systemic inflammation and placental vasoconstriction, such as preeclampsia (PE), fetal growth restriction (FGR) and preterm birth (PTB), are related to this increase of ROS. Antioxidants may be a promising tool in this population. However, clinical evidence on their use, especially those of natural origin, is scarce and controversial. Following PRISMA methodology, the current review addresses the use of natural antioxidants, such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), melatonin and resveratrol (RESV), as well as other classical antioxidants (vitamin C and E) during the prenatal period as treatment of the above-mentioned complications. We review the effect of antioxidant supplementation on breast milk in lactating mothers.