Högskolan i Skövde

The visuals of a game is a crucial element when it comes to providing good player experiences. Visuals are also an incredibly complex subject in a game context since different modes of visual representation can be more or less “appropriate” for different settings. For example, while one can look at photo-realism as an impressive feature of a game due to its technical complexity and functionally accurate representation of real-world objects, it might still not be a fitting choice for different audiences, or for different pedagogical strategies. Serious game research seldom focuses on understanding the design of these components or their applicability to different types of learning, and it more often focuses on games’ mechanics and how well they manage to capture subject matter content while still being engaging. The aim of this paper is to explore the gap in visual communication research, describing what studies tend to focus on providing some valuable context. This review was conducted on papers that dealt with visual aspects of serious games. The results show that visual communication is rarely addressed in serious game development research. Future research would benefit from taking visual communication in detail to facilitate the effectiveness of serious games.

In serious game development, effective communication through both languages, sounds, and icons can be crucial for a game to have its intended impact. While this is also true for entertainment games, serious games have added layers of challenges as they are a) often played by audiences outside of the “typical” game ecosystem, and b) miscommunication can lead to players missing important lessons or even learning incorrect information. When a serious game is intended to be used in different parts of the world, however, clear visual communication gets an added layer of complexity: culturally informed symbol interpretation and visual preference. In order to examine how these might affect players’ experiences when playing serious games, this paper presents the results of a mixed-method study conducted in two schools in Nepal. The study included 10 participants, between 13-16 years old, who played a prototype of a mobile game currently in development, which has the purpose of teaching young players about food nutrition and healthy habits. After playing the prototype, they took a short survey where they were asked to identify different food types, and they were also interviewed to discuss their opinions of the game’s visual style. The results of the study indicate that, while higher fidelity images were much easier to correctly identify by the participants, the participants’ preference for visual fidelity varied to a large degree.

The high prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors among adolescents of Nepal necessitates targeted interventions among this age group. Adolescents need a user friendly, acceptable and hands on media for cardiovascular health education. Digital technologies such as serious games have proven pedagogic potential. In this study, we aim to describe the steps followed to develop a serious game tailored to the needs of the adolescents in a sub-urban community in Nepal. We adopted a three-step development process: (1) defining learning goals, (2) developing and testing the game design and (3) incorporating active culturalization throughout the iterative game development process. We describe how culturalization was applied in each step to achieve educational viability. The final game called Happy Heart consisted of seven mini games: Name the food, Food sorter, Sugar rush, Salt seeker, Fat buster, Plan your meal and Activate. The game was augmented by an in-game journal that addressed complex concepts that could not be integrated into the game mechanics. The final game was culturally adapted and addressed the learning gaps of the target population. Learning through games has high potential in a lower middle-income country like Nepal.

In serious game development, graphic design needs to be eye-catching, while also depicting subject matter content in a responsible, accurate, and clear way. Previous research has shown that abstract and symbolic game visuals seem to be preferable for learning and providing an engaging experience. Our research focuses on describing the challenges involved in creating effective visual communication through game graphics in cross cultures. In particular, we’re interested in examining if certain styles of visual communication are more or less effective between different cultural demographics. To examine this, we have created a serious game which aims to promote healthy food and nutrition habits to teenagers in both Nepalese and Swedish schools and by doing so also motivate behavioral changes toward healthier eating habits. We are currently conducting studies to see whether preferences and image recognition differ between the two demographical spheres. This paper will only discuss the exploratory study done in Nepal. Ultimately, this paper aims to contribute development guidelines that can aid developers in creating more effective visual communication in their serious games, and we primarily focus on exploring what we call the compromise of ‘clarity’ and ‘appeal’ in the creation of game graphics. We present an initial model for choosing at what level in terms of realism/abstraction and taxonomic hierarchy the graphical components of serious games optimally should be produced in order to solve the dilemma of precise, unmistakable, yet appealing visuals in serious games. It all comes down to two primary decisions: defining the taxonomic hierarchy of the items to depict, and choosing the style in which to depict them. With a better understanding of when different game visuals are more or less appropriate, both in terms of style and in which objects are represented, game developers will be able to balance production costs better while also creating something that strikes the compromise between clarity and appeal.

Understanding players’ diverse visual recognition and visual preferences, especially in cross-cultural contexts, is critical for the creation of effective serious games. This study aimed to examine how varying levels of fidelity affect players' visual recognition, visual preference, and overall experience in serious gaming, using a mixed-method case study in the Bhaktapur district, Kathmandu, Nepal. Forty-four participants, aged 13 to 16 years, were enrolled in an A/B gameplay test. Fourteen students participated in in-depth interviews, thirty-six completed a questionnaire, and twenty-two provided valid telemetry data. We found that higher fidelity led to more positive affect, better recognition, stronger preference, higher familiarity, and positive emotional response from players. However, challenges were encountered regarding the identification of local food items. This highlights the key role of visual literacy, as adolescents are more influenced by familiar media than by real-life experiences in terms of visual recognition and preference. Effective visual communication in serious games should consider individual differences and the playing environment. This study contributes to serious game research by providing insights into an underrepresented demographic and demonstrating the importance of cultural context in visual communication. Findings offer practical guidance for game developers to design more inclusive and effective serious games.