What are Serious Games?
Areas of impact
Serious Games refers to a broad spectrum of applications from basic Adobe Flash animations to immersive and code-driven 3D environments (games) where users interface with large volumes of data through sophisticated and interactive digital interfaces. SGI-SA utilises two main avenues of implementation, namely academic and commercial. In terms of the academic application hereof, the development of graduate qualifications pertaining to Serious Games as well as the generation of research outputs are envisioned. Commercially the aim is to promote and implement the potential advantages that Serious Games harbour – ranging from accelerated staff training to risk mitigation for both the private and the public sector.
Games are known to cause flow, telepresence and immersion for the participants – meaning that gamers are part of the game world, more than they are aware of their real existence. With this in mind, the positive efficacy of serious games as a learning tool has been shown to be beyond doubt. Adding a good dose of entertainment to EGBL, we strongly believe that we can make a difference for all walks of training and educational requirements. Through presenting real life scenarios in a game environment, users are able to engage better with the material they need to comprehend. The learning environment becomes a virtual environment which has no real risk or cost (other than in the player’s immersed state) to the organisation’s stakeholders. In turn, employees become fully equipped in an entertaining and engaging way (i.e. without displaying the usual traits of training reluctance and disinterest) to face the organisation’s real challenges.
Research
Our goal is to establish a universal footprint and become the respected leader in the development of virtual learning solutions. Through continued research, SGI-SA aims to advance the world of innovative skills acquisition and decision making and become the first port of call for entertainment filled learning.
We hosted our first international conference from 27 - 29 August 2014 with keynote speaker Ernest Adams.
Serious Games refers to a broad spectrum of applications from basic Adobe Flash animations to immersive and code-driven 3D environments (games) where users interface with large volumes of data through sophisticated and interactive digital interfaces.
SGI-SA utilises two main avenues of implementation, namely academic and commercial. In terms of the academic application hereof, the development of graduate qualifications pertaining to Serious Games as well as the generation of research outputs are envisioned. Commercially the aim is to promote and implement the potential advantages that Serious Games harbour – ranging from accelerated staff training to risk mitigation for both the private and the public sector.
The SGI-SA plays a twofold role with regards to teaching and learning. Firstly, we strongly believe that we have moved into a new era where today’s students are no longer enthralled by the “talk and chalk” teaching methodology of the old; they are after something new and exciting. To this end, SGI-SA is constantly looking to leverage our compliment of lecturing staff with PC-based or mobile games that can be incorporated as part of lesson scope. Secondly, SGI-SA also hosts a series of mobile development, animation and game modelling workshops throughout the year. Should you be a more aspiring games creator, we also offer a short course in game development.
Universities pride themselves greatly in being at the sharp end of developing new concepts and solutions. As a research body of the highest distinction in the fields of Electronic Games Based Learning (EGBL) and Mobile Technologies, SGI-SA aims to provide Africa with tools suited to our continent’s training needs and conditions. Furthermore, for postgraduate (MSc and PhD) students who wish to specialise in Serious Games and/or Mobile Technologies, SGI-SA’s research activities provide an environment of unsurpassed distinction for nurturing prominent specialist in these fields.
