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Field Lab | Game research

DGA Gaming Field lab

The gaming industry worldwide is growing enormously, and games and their innovative technologies often act as a catalyst for innovation in a range of fields of research. To ensure the Dutch gaming industry also profits from this and is involved, the DGA Gaming Field Lab wants to strengthen the connection between knowledge institutions and gaming companies, so companies are more open to research, and researchers take into account the practical questions and problems a bit more.

With that goal in mind, the Gaming Field lab is organising meetings aimed at networking, matchmaking and knowledge sharing, especially for SMEs, and will ensure (partial) funding of research projects in which knowledge institutions work with the industry. The field lab also shows joint research projects and innovative concepts that are relevant for a range of applications, like in healthcare and education. Within the game research, the field lab is specifically focused on the theme ‘reusable game Artificial Intelligence (AI). Game AI is aimed at using AI for game development and gaming behavior.

The focus on game AI fits within an international trend. Not only have developments in gaming and AI been closely linked since the first chess computer (1950), the European Commission has recently made AI a top priority in reaction to large investments by Singapore, Korea, Canada, the US, China and others. The reuse of software is seen as a big step towards harmonisation, standardisation and efficiency improvement internationally as well – because if it can’t be reused, it doesn’t need to be developed. Reuse also encourages sharing of knowledge and cooperation between parties. The results of the field lab will therefore directly benefit the sector as a whole.

The projects

DGA Gaming Fieldlab has issued a call for research proposals which has resulted in the funding of five projects. Each of these projects connects a games company to an educational institution in a consortium to conduct research. These consortiums will work together for a duration of two years and will present their progress at regular intervals.

DGA Gaming Fieldlab is a collaboration between Dutch Games Association and CLICKNL that supports the Dutch games industry by accommodating research-industry collaborations. It has acquired funds for joint research into advanced game technologies and associated methodologies that aim to bring game design and development to the next level. To strengthen the game development community the DGA Gaming Fieldlab arranges research-industry meetings for discussion and knowledge sharing. Furthermore, the DGA Gaming Fieldlab offers guidance and advice regarding game research and takes up a matchmaking role between game professionals and researchers.

iStock game computer laptop
Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences

A Digital Prototyping Tool for Card Game Design

The tool supports the creation of a wide variety of card games, ranging from variations on existing card games like Poker, UNO and Hanabi, to conceptual Card Decks for supporting design tasks. The tool allows the easy creation of card decks, including simple designs for numbers, colours, names, figures, etc., but also the rule-sets of the games. The tool also offers support for playing and playtesting the game on screen.

  • HAN University of Applied Sciences

    VR Body Lab

    A Multiplayer Virtual Reality Play Environment using full body avatars offers new possibilities for therapy. A key element is the use of full-body avatars, allowing for non-verbal communication. The therapist can share this space with the client so he can observe and provide interventions. This research will investigate if the core elements of Psycho Motoric Therapy (PMT) can be applied in this VR environment.

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iStock-639001852 ipad jongen boy game huis
Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences

Didactics-Driven Development

The applied research proposal “Didactics-Driven Development” addresses the problem of validation of Applied Games, in particular Serious Games with specific didactic goals and intended outcomes. The project aims at establishing a methodology and a tool for the systematic validation of applied educational games. The tool will support making explicit didactic concerns, and monitoring and measuring the actual educational outcomes, during the development process.

iStock telefoon game smartphone
Utrecht University

Quality of assessment of sequences of choices in serious games

How can we use or adapt psychometric techniques to determine the quality of assessment of sequences of user interactions in serious games? We will first develop a format for representing the kind of sequences of interactions that are assessed in serious games. Then we will adapt techniques from psychometry to determine methods and develop software that analyses sequences of interactions.

iStock virtual reality VR VR-bril educatie
Utrecht University

VReye!

Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) experience problems with learning and performing motor skills. In this cross-sectoral research-industry collaboration, we will research how a hybrid VR-gaming intervention called VReye! can facilitate a knowledge transfer towards sustainable cycling behavior for children with DCD.

The DGA Gaming Field Lab is a collaboration between DGA, Open Universiteit and the RAGE Foundation, and is supported by CLICKNL.

Stay updated on the DGA Gaming Field Lab via LinkedIn!

For this field lab, PPS surcharge is being used.

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    The people behind CLICKNL: Wim Westera