Serious games are a distinct category of games designed to serve purposes beyond mere entertainment. They can be used in various domains such as defense, education, scientific exploration, healthcare, emergency management, city planning, engineering, and politics. 

The two most promising technologies for creating engaging and immersive serious games are augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). These technologies can develop interactive and convincing environments that simulate real-world scenarios or create new ones. They can provide feedback, guidance, and motivation to the players, significantly enhancing their learning and performance.

As you scroll through… 

1. What are Serious Games?

2. Great Examples of Serious Games

3. How to Introduce Serious AR And VR Games Into Your Company? 

4. Beginners Guide to Develop Serious AR and VR Games?

What are Serious Games?

Do you know that serious games serve a greater purpose beyond entertainment? Serious games are designed to serve a greater purpose. They are designed to achieve specific learning objectives or behavioral outcomes in the players, such as acquiring new skills, knowledge, attitudes, or values. Serious games can also be used to raise awareness, influence opinions, or promote social change.

Serious games are basically interactive games that allow players to carry out activities that enable them to practice skills and achieve aspects beyond simply enjoying a leisure activity. The idea shares aspects with simulation, generally including flight and medical simulations, but explicitly emphasizes the added pedagogical value of fun and competition.

Great Examples of Serious Games

Before looking at how to create a serious AR and VR game, let's look at some notable examples that exemplify the versatility and impact of serious gaming.

ReMission:

Designed for young cancer patients, ReMission is a game that educates and motivates them to adhere to their treatment plans. Players control a nanobot named Roxxi to fight cancer cells, fostering a sense of empowerment and understanding of their medical conditions.

Foldit:

Foldit is an online puzzle video game that enables players to contribute to scientific research by predicting protein structures. It engages gamers in biochemistry problem-solving, turning a complex scientific task into an interactive and competitive experience.

Darfur is Dying:

Darfur is Dying is a flash-based browser game that simulates the life of a refugee in Darfur in Western Sudan and raises awareness about the humanitarian crisis. By September of the year 2006, more than 800,000 individuals had played the game, which was released in April of the same year.

Microsoft Flight Simulator:

Beyond its entertainment value, Microsoft Flight Simulator 5serves as a powerful training tool for aspiring pilots. With realistic flight physics and accurate recreations of global landscapes, it provides an immersive learning experience for aviation enthusiasts. 

How to Introduce Serious AR And VR Games Into Your Company?

Incorporating serious AR and VR games into a corporate setting requires a strategic approach to ensure seamless integration and maximum impact.

 1. Assessing Training Needs

Identify specific areas within your organization where serious games can enhance training effectiveness. Whether it's employee onboarding, skill development, or team building, understanding the training needs is crucial.

 2. Choosing the Right Platform

Decide whether AR, VR, or a combination of both is suitable for your training objectives. Consider factors such as accessibility, cost, and the level of immersion required for the training programs.

 3. Developing Custom Solutions

Collaborate with experienced developers to create customized serious games tailored to your company's requirements. This may involve creating scenarios that mimic real work situations or developing simulations that challenge employees to apply their skills in a controlled environment.

 4. Employee Engagement Strategies

Implement strategies to encourage employee participation and engagement. This may include incorporating gamification elements, setting up leaderboards, and offering rewards for achieving specific milestones within the serious games.

 5. Continuous Evaluation and Improvement

Regularly assess the effectiveness of serious AR and VR games in meeting training objectives. Gather feedback from participants, analyze performance metrics, and iteratively improve the serious games to enhance their impact over time.

Beginners Guide to Develop  AR and VR Games?

Developing serious AR and VR games involves a combination of technical expertise, creative design, and a deep understanding of the learning objectives. Here is a step-by-step guide to the development process of serious AR and VR games: 

 1. Define Learning Objectives

Clearly outline the educational goals and skills you aim to impart through the serious game. Whether it's technical training, soft skills development, or knowledge retention, defining objectives is the foundation of effective serious game design.

 2. Select Appropriate Technology

Choose between AR and VR based on the nature of the learning objectives. If real-world interaction is essential, AR may be more suitable, while VR offers a fully immersive environment for complex simulations.

 3. Storyboarding and Design

Create a detailed storyboard outlining the flow of the serious game. Design the user interface, scenarios, and interactions to align with the learning objectives. Collaboration between instructional designers, game developers, and subject matter experts is crucial at this stage.

 4. Prototyping

Develop a prototype to test the feasibility of the serious game concept. Gather feedback from stakeholders and make necessary adjustments before proceeding to full-scale development.

 5. Integration of AR/VR Elements

Implement AR and VR elements seamlessly into the serious game. Ensure that these technologies enhance the learning experience rather than being mere gimmicks. Utilize the unique capabilities of AR and VR to create a more immersive and effective training environment.

 6. User Testing and Iteration

Conduct thorough user testing to identify any usability issues, glitches, or areas for improvement. Iterate on the design based on user feedback to enhance the overall user experience and learning outcomes.

 7. Deployment

Once the serious AR or VR game has passed all testing phases, deploy it within your organization's training programs. Provide necessary training and support for users to ensure a smooth implementation.

Final Thoughts

Serious AR and VR games represent a paradigm shift in how we approach education and training. By harnessing the power of immersive technologies, these games elevate learning experiences, making them more engaging, effective, and enjoyable. 

As industries continue to embrace the potential of serious games, the integration of AR and VR will likely become more widespread, shaping the future of corporate training and education. In the pursuit of mastering the art of crafting serious AR and VR games, continuous innovation, strategic implementation, and a commitment to enhancing the learning journey will be key factors in unlocking their full potential.