An integrative process for making serious games

De Angeli, Daniela, Finnegan, Daniel J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1169-2842 and Scott, Lee 2026. An integrative process for making serious games. Presented at: 14th International Conference on Games and Learning Alliance, GALA 2025, Utrecht, The Netherlands, 19 - 21 November 2025. Published in: Bakkes, Sander, Bellotti, Francesco, Dondio, Pierpaolo, Ninaus, Manuel, Wannick, Vanissa and Bucchiarone, Antonio eds. Games and Learning Alliance: 14th International Conference, GALA 2025, Utrecht, The Netherlands, November 19–21, 2025, Proceedings. Lecture Notes in Computer Science Springer Nature Switzerland, pp. 478-483. 10.1007/978-3-032-11043-5_53

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

Serious games – games designed for purposes beyond recreation – rely on input from experts, stakeholders, and target audiences to ensure they meet their objectives in an accurate, authentic, and sensitive manner. These objectives may range from education to encouraging social change. Yet existing frameworks, while offering sound guidance on design principles and practices, are often unclear about how and when to involve key stakeholders, risking underutilising domain-specific experience and expertise. To address this gap, we propose an integrative design process for creating “seriously fun games” that applies an iterative, multi-stakeholder approach across three phases: Co-discovery, Co-design, and Co-evaluation. We illustrate the process through case studies (e.g. Built from Beneath, T Cell Titans) where sustained stakeholder engagement was critical in defining game purpose, shaping impactful narratives, aligning mechanics with objectives, and anticipating audience interpretations. This work contributes a replicable, stakeholder-driven methodology for designers seeking to create entertaining titles that support learning and address complex societal issues.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Computer Science & Informatics
Publisher:	Springer Nature Switzerland
ISBN:	9783032110428
ISSN:	0302-9743
Last Modified:	09 Jan 2026 16:01
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/183768

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item