Balancing Play, Meaning and Reality: The Design Philosophy of LEVEE PATROLLER

Casper Harteveld, Rui Guimarães, Igor S. Mayer and Rafael Bidarra
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Casper Harteveld: Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands, c.harteveld@tudelft.nl
Rui Guimarães: Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands, rui.guimaraes@gmail.com
Igor S. Mayer: Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands, i.s.mayer@tudelft.nl
Rafael Bidarra: Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands, a.r.bidarra@tudelft.nl

Simulation & Gaming, 2010, vol. 41, issue 3, 316-340

Abstract: Most serious games have been developed without a proper and comprehensive design theory. To contribute to the development of such a theory, this article presents the underlying design philosophy of LEVEE PATROLLER , a game to train levee patrollers in the Netherlands. This philosophy stipulates that the design of a digital serious game is a multiobjective problem in which trade-offs need to be made. Making these trade-offs takes place in a design space defined by three equally important components: (a) Play, (b) Meaning, and (c) Reality. The various tensions between these three components result in design dilemmas and trilemmas that make it difficult to balance a serious game. Each type of tension is illustrated with one or more examples from the design of LEVEE PATROLLER.

Keywords: computer-based simulation; design philosophy; digital games; serious games; flood risk management; game design; levee inspection (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:simgam:v:41:y:2010:i:3:p:316-340

DOI: 10.1177/1046878108331237

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