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| 07.10.2007Please, developers, don't make
I am always pleased to see articles focused on serious games, such as the recent feature, "Who Says Video Games Have To Be Fun? The Rise of Serious Games." I applaud the use of games to espouse a personal viewpoint and further social change. To do so effectively, I would ask developers not to underestimate the power of fun, especially as a motivator. Indeed, while doing research for our book, Serious Games: Games That Educate, Train, and Inform, David Michael and I found that more than 80% of survey respondents felt that the element of fun was "important" or "very important" in serious games development.
This is the reason why people outside the industry are interested in games and the skills of game developers. As game developers, we already know about fun. We design games to entertain. As a game writer, I strive for dialog that is both informative and entertaining. With fun, children are more inclined to learn, trainees are more inclined to study, and players are more likely to stay in your game long enough to understand your point of view.
I do understand that the primary aim of serious games is not entertainment, but this does not mean that the serious game cannot be entertaining. Please remember the 'game' part when developing a serious game because I want to play a game, not an interactive problem set or art piece!
Yours sincerely,
-Sande Chen
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Letters to the Editor
