Learning Games can also be Serious Games

Learning games is also a reality in the world of serious games based on this news article "Games which aren't fun but are useful" by Duncan Jefferies in The Guardian on Thursday October 18 2007. Here is a short extract:

*************************************************************************
The words "serious" and "games" do not exactly go hand in hand: the former is to do with disasters and global warming, the latter being associated with things like fun, excitement and pleasure.

Despite this, the term "serious games" has become a catch-all term for software which uses videogame design principles to deliver educational and training experiences. Typically bespoke, they are designed to run on standard PCs or games consoles, immersing players within a virtual environment where they must perform a series of objectives in a similar fashion to a mainstream videogame.

"Learning through play is a well established educational principle," says Mary Matthews at TruSim, the serious games division of independent video games developer Blitz Games. "The fact that it's now being applied to adult learning should not be a surprise to anyone. Look at roleplaying: nobody bats an eyelid at that as a valid form of training. Transferring that to videogames is the automatic next step."
*************************************************************************

Although this serious games concept is about delivering educational and training experiences, it just means it is being applied to more serious learning than games that are being played just for the fun of it.

The basic principle of learning the fun way still applies. Not only is it fun but it now does not have to be dependent on an instructor being available all the time.