For the first time, professional and aspiring game developers have a comprehensive resource that goes beyond the entertainment-focused aspects of game simulation to delve into its escalating impact on the outside worlds of business, education, and training. As an increasing number of Fortune 500 companies, as well as educational and governmental heavyweights take notice of the potential usefulness of game simulations for training, the demand for developers who can skillfully integrate educational tasks with gaming features is increasing dramatically. Game Simulation Development provides an in-depth look at how games are using a variety of different simulations to incorporate educational and training-based elements. By investigating a wide range of successful games, the book offers critical knowledge regarding why certain game simulations are effective in each genre. It also explores the ways expert developers consider how players respond to visual, aural, and tactile feedback to make the simulation as convincing and immersive as possible. Additional coverage includes intrinsic and extrinsic knowledge, constructivist theory, social interaction and lateral learning, and how these principles apply to game simulation development, providing a well-rounded resource for aspiring game developers.
Part 1: Background & Market
- History: how did we get here?
- Audience: who uses simulations & why?
Part 2: Serious Games
- Education: game sumulations for learning and instruction
- Business: simulating the workplace
- Military: virtual soldiers on a simulated battlefield
Part3: Entertainment & the Future
- Sports: bringing the acton into the living room
- Creative Arts: tools that challenge and inspire
- Sandboxes: open-ended simulations
- The Future: where we're going
"Game Simulation Development is loaded with content and follows a meaningful line of recent publications by Novak in this field. The book includes highly appropriate contributions by industry professionals. Each chapter is well organized and concludes with excellent chapter summaries that promote critical thinking."
-- Brad Anderson --
(Chair, Department of Art & Division fo Fine Arts, Kansas Wesleyan University)