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Elisa Navarro

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Paul Darvasi

One of the unique challenges in serious game design is how to capture real-life complexities in the form of a fun and accessible game. Designers are often confronted by a series of decisions where they must decide whether they sacrifice the representation of reality, or curtail game elements to remain faithful to the real world. A similar dynamic occurs when designing games for learning. How does one achieve the fine balance between education and entertainment? Drawing from decades of digital and analog serious and educational game design, the presenters in this session will ground practical tips and advice with examples from their practice. Participants will better understand how to leverage game mechanics to capture complex issues, how to use narrative for representation, and how to enlist research, stakeholders, and subject matter experts to ensure the game achieves its objects in an engaging manner.