Week 7 Questions

What are the challenges a team faces when working on an educational game? They bring up a few different challenges in this article that a team faces. One of the major difficulties is having a game be educational while still being engaging for users. Another challege is the conflicts that arise among members of the team. Each member of the team may have a differnt focus or vision for the game and it often leads to as disagreement between the team members.

In the case study team members vetoed each others game ideas, what were the scientist’s, pedagogy expert’s and designer’s issues? The scientist, likely an expert in the subject, focused on the scientific accuracy and was cautious about any design elements that could confuse the intent of the product. The pedagogy expert was responsible for the educational aspect of the game, making sure that the game supported edcational values and that the mechanics backed that. Meanwhile, the designer was focused on making the game fun and enagaging.

What did the team learn from play testing their prototypes? Through playtesting their prototypes, the team learned a lot about their game’s strengths and weaknesses. They were able to identify design flaws early on, such as gameplay elements that were confusing or ineffective, and pinpoint areas where players struggled. Playtesting also helped the team understand how players interacted with the game and which parts they enjoyed or found frustrating.

How does play testing resolve conflicts among team members? Playtesting helps resolve conflicts by providing objective feedback from real players. When team members disagree about game features or design decisions, the results from playtesting offer a basis for making decisions. Additionally, playtesting helps align the team’s goals by showing how players respond to the educational and gameplay aspects. By seeing the actual player experience, team members can make changes that address both the educational and entertainment needs of the game.