1. © Carrie Heeter, 2010
Foundations of Serious Games
Professor Carrie Heeter

2. © Carrie Heeter, 2010
INNOVATIVE INDIE GAME
 Derek
 Spectre
GAMES FOR LEARNING
 Mete
 The McDonalds Game
 John
 The Cat and the Coup
DECEMBER 1:
Greg
Kristine
Alan
June
(We’ll do military games
one week later)

3. © Carrie Heeter, 2010
 The assignment is posted, take a look
 Here’s an example playtest powerpoint, not
for TC830. Let’s look.

4. © Carrie Heeter, 2010
 Think through what you know you want to look for.
 Create game progression-oriented OBSERVATION FORMS to
 Ensure you don’t miss key points
 Make it easy to take organized notes
 Photograph your prototype, including closeups, before the test
 Plan points when you will ask players what they are thinking or
why they made a choice.
 Plan a post-play survey.

5. © Carrie Heeter, 2010
 Assign a photographer to take pictures of game play and people.
 Assign observers to watch specific players.
 Assign a general observer.
 Assign someone be in charge of the playtest, being the main
person interacting with the playtesters and keeping things on
schedule.
 This person may need to make decisions if time runs out or players get
stuck or expected pieces are missing.
 This person is the communication contact with the players.
 Instruct the playtesters to think aloud as they play.

6. © Carrie Heeter, 2010
Game Designer Art Director
Content
Expert
Theory
Person
Audience
Expert
Web
Designer
Project
Director

7. NO YES
Phase 3: Native American
males with genotype AA in
this SNP who develop
Type 2 Diabetes
Make your best guess by dragging the marker onto
YES or NO.
Underdog bonus : x10
Overall Risk for Simon’s
Genotype: 25%
?
DNA Roulette
People who share Simon’s genetype on ___ (?) have a significantly
Elevated risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes. Approximately 25% of NA men
with genoype AA develop T2D.
Did Simon develop type 2 diabetes in his lifetime?
NEXT
Simon
age 36
Native American
yes
(25%)
no
(75%)
A A
AA
%
?
DNA Roulette Board
DISEASE: Type 2 Diabetes

10. Historia
5
CTRL ALT
DEL
5
The
Missing
Link
5

11. © Carrie Heeter, 2010

12. © Carrie Heeter, 2010
 I’m happy to meet with any team or individual.
Just let me know.