Most educational or training games, also referred to as serious games, have been developed without an underlying design theory. In order to make a contribution to the development of such a theory, we present the underlying design philosophy of Levee Patroller, a 3D first-person game used to train levee patrollers in the Netherlands. This approach stipulates that the design of a serious game is a multi-objective problem where trade-offs need to be made. Making these trade-offs takes place in a 'design space' defined by three general boundary criteria: 1. fun (game), 2. learning (pedagogy), and 3. validity (reality). The various tensions between these three criteria make it difficult to 'balance' or create harmony in a serious game. We illustrate this process with a discussion on the design of Levee Patroller. In addition, we translate the aforementioned general design criteria into a number of concrete design requirements for serious games.
DOCUMENT
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.
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Recent years have seen a global rise in the failure of tailings dams. Studies investigating the causes of slope failure often recognise high intensity rainfall events to significantly contribute to liquefaction, erosion and overtopping. This study aims to investigate the influence of alternative physical and geohydrological processes that, under tension saturation conditions, contribute to slope instability in tailings dams. It has been suggested that the generation of transient pressure wave mechanisms by high intensity rainfall events, surface ponding and wetting front advancement result in the formation of an induced pressure head that triggers the mobilization of pre-event water. In order to quantify these physical processes, this study included the analysis of rapid transmission conditions in a silica fines mix, with similar physical and hydraulic characteristics as platinum tailings. A tall leak-proof soil column, containing the soil sample compacted to in-situ dry bulk density, was fitted with seven observation ports. Each port consisted of a pore air pressure probe, a mini tensiometer and a time domain reflectometry probe. After set-up and initial stabilisation, three separate artificial high intensity rainfall events were applied to the surface. Monitoring of hydraulic state variables was recorded at thirty second intervals by automatic logging, thereby enabling the analysis of measured outcomes. Observations showed instant spikes in pore air pressure ahead of the wetting front, as well as a number of delayed responses. The interpretation of lab results led to the conclusion that pressure diffusion mechanisms throughout the porous medium, could result in the rapid release and mobilisation of previously stagnant antecedent moisture, thereby enabling phreatic levels to rising rapidly and in excess to the amount of surface infiltration. Also, since an increase in pore water pressure is likely to cause a reduction in shear strength, it is suggested that these physical and geohydrological processes could have an adverse impact on the stability of tailings dams.
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