Secrets of a Successful Serious Game

There are several benefits that serious games can provide the learners. But if serious games are poorly designed, then the organization will not be able to reap the benefits to the full extent. If learning designers really want serious games to be viable, then they need to put deep thought into how to make it fun and effective. Serious games need to be mapped carefully to the key objectives of learning. Designers need to devote time educating themselves about game elements and how they link to learning.

Best practices to keep in mind

The right approach is required. If your organization is interested in the serious game methodology, then it needs to have a robust plan with specific metrics. The learning objectives need to be defined clearly along with the rewards and feedback system. If the objectives are made measurable, it will be easier to track the behavior change in the learners.

Serious games should motivate the learners to get involved. A good reward system can excite and motivate the learners. The rewards need not be materialistic. Sometimes status can be more appealing than any gift card. What can be more exciting than being able to beat your boss and getting praised for it?

A good gaming strategy involves measuring the success of the serious game. It is essential to record pre and post deployment metrics and compare it. It will clearly help you gauge the effectiveness of the game. For example, if you track the sales rate per quarter before and after deployment of the game, you can track success. It is important to track data on how often people are playing the game, when they are playing, how long they are involved, and so on.

Once the game is ready, it cannot be left on the shelf. It is like a living entity and needs constant attention. It is easy to keep the learners engaged and excited if there is an internal marketing plan. You may consider designated specific training times or establishing deadlines.

Things to avoid in serious games

The game cannot be overly simplistic nor can it be too difficult. It needs to maintain a fine balance. Either way, the learner will lose interest and quit. The experience needs to be fun and engaging.

It is not wise to use imaginary tasks in the game. It should replicate the workspace of the learners and involve daily tasks that they perform on a daily basis. The idea is to enhance the skill that boosts productivity.

Avoiding feedback is not wise. The learners need feedback at every stage of the game. They need guidance on how to move to the next level. They need direction on how to complete tasks. And, of course, they need feedback on how they are doing in the game.

A serious game will be successful only when the fun elements of gaming is linked to the learning objectives. It is worth the effort the do a thorough research on it before creating the game.

At, Designing Digitally, Inc., our innovative gaming solutions help the learners practice their skill in a virtual workspace and learn from their mistakes. This leads to greater knowledge and increased productivity for the organization.

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