Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Using combinatorial creativity to support end-user design of digital games

  • Published:
Multimedia Tools and Applications Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To really exploit the full potential of computer games in areas other than entertainment, it will be necessary to reduce the high cost associated with their design and development and to put their production directly into the hands of the domain experts. Although these experts might be interested in integrating games in their activities, they normally do not have the required technical background to create or adapt games to their needs. We propose to tackle the complexity of game design, and thereby facilitate end user design, by defining the games as a combination of more simple games following a combinatorial creativity approach. This approach does not impose the cognitive overload of learning a new design language. In addition, it might also speed up the description of the games insofar as designers do not start from scratch, trying to match their ideas with game components, but they rely upon a set of archetypical games they can combine to reach their goals. The design technique is complemented with a game platform that offers a set of authoring tools for describing game designs that can be exported to XML files, and a game engine able to interpret such files and automatically generate a 3D virtual environment in which the games can be played. In this way, designers can envision games they will be able to design in an iterative way and play the games they design to assess their validity. The proposed combinatorial approach has been evaluated in two focus group experiences that validate its feasibility and acceptability both by technical and non-technical users.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Aldrich C (2005) Learning by doing: A comprehensive guide to simulations, computer games, and pedagogy in e-learning and other educational experiences. Pfeiffer, San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  2. Alexander C, Ishikawa S, Silverstein M (1977) A pattern language: towns, buildings, construction. Oxford University Press

  3. Ampatzoglou A, Chatzigeorgiou A (2007) Evaluation of object-oriented design patterns in game development. Inf Softw Technol 49(5):445–454

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Ampatzoglou A, Stamelos I (2010) Software engineering research for computer games: a systematic review. Inf Softw Technol 52(9):888–901

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Bilas S (2002) A data-driven game object system. Proceedings of Game Developers Conference

  6. Björk S, Holopainen J (2005) Patterns in game design. Charles River Media, Hingham

    Google Scholar 

  7. Boden MA (2004) The creative mind: Myths and mechanisms. Routledge, London

    Google Scholar 

  8. Cho H, Yang J-S (2008) Architecture patterns for mobile games product lines. Proceedings of the 10th IEEE International Conference on Advanced Communication Technology (ICACT 2008)

  9. Collins (2015) Collins English Dictionary 12th Ed

  10. Davis FD (1989) Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Q 13(3):319–339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Davidsson O, Peitz J, Björk S (2004) Game design patterns for mobile games. Project report to Nokia research center, Finland

    Google Scholar 

  12. Dondi C, Moretti M (2007) A methodological proposal for learning games selection and quality assessment. Br J Educ Technol 38(3):502–512

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Druckman D (1995) The educational effectiveness of interactive games, simulation and gaming across disciplines and cultures: ISAGA at a watershed

  14. Epic Games (2015) Unreal Engine. http://www.unrealengine.com/ Last accessed May 4, 2015

  15. Flat Red Ball (2014) http://www.flatredball.com/frb/blog/ Last accessed May 4, 2015

  16. Folmer E (2007) Component based game development–A solution to escalating costs and expanding deadlines? Component-based software engineering, Springer, 66–73

  17. Furtado AW, Santos AL, Ramalho GL, de Almeida ES (2011) Improving digital game development with software product lines. IEEE Softw 28(5):30–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Hardy S, Dutz T, Wiemeyer J, Gönel S, Steinmetz R (2015) Framework for personalized and adaptive game-based training programs in health sport. Multimedia Tools and Applications, Ed: Springer US, 74(14):5289–5311

  19. Iacovides I, Cox AL, McAndrew P, Aczel J, Scanlon E (2015) Game-play breakdowns and breakthroughs: exploring the relationship between action, understanding, and involvement. Human–computer interaction, 30(3–4)

  20. Katsionis G, Virvou M (2008) Personalised e-learning through an educational virtual reality game using Web services, Multimedia Tools and Applications, Ed: Springer US, 39(1):47–71

  21. Klemmer SR, Hartmann B, Takayama L (2006) How bodies matter: Five themes for interaction design. Proceedings of the 6th Conference on Designing Interactive systems (DIS’06). ACM, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  22. Kreimeier B (2012) The Case for Game Design Patterns. http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20020313/-kreimeier 01.htm. Last accessed May 4, 2015

  23. Lieberman H, Paternó F, Klann M, Wulf V (2006) End-user development: an emerging paradigm. End User Development. Human-Comput Interact Ser 9:1–8

  24. McNaughton M, Cutumisu M, Szafron D, Schaeffer J, Redford J, Parker D (2004) ScriptEase: Generative design patterns for computer role-playing games. Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Automated Software Engineering

  25. Mehm F, Göbel S, Steinmetz R (2012) Authoring and re-authoring processes for educational adventure games. Proceedings of the 6th European Conference on Games Based Learning (ECGBL 2012)

  26. Montero Reyno E, Carsi Cubel JA (2008) Model-driven game development: 2d platform game prototyping. Proceedings in GameOn

  27. Musil J, Schweda A, Winkler D, Biffl S (2010) Improving video game development: Facilitating heterogeneous team collaboration through flexible software processes. Systems, Software and Services Process Improvement. Springer, Berlin, pp 83–94

    Google Scholar 

  28. Moody DL (2003) The method evaluation model: a theoretical model for validating information systems design methods. Proceedings of European Conference on Information Systems (ECIS)

  29. Onuczko C, Cutumisu M, Szafron D, Schaeffer J, McNaughton M, Roy T, Siegel J (2005) A pattern catalog for computer role playing games, Proceedings in GameOn North America

  30. Prensky M (2001) True believers: digital game-based learning in the military, Digital game-based learning

  31. Salen K, Zimmerman E (2004) Rules of play: game design fundamentals, MIT press

  32. Susi T, Johannesson M, Backlund P (2007) Serious games - an overview, University of Skövde, Sweden Technical Report HS-IKI-TR-07-001

  33. Torrente J, del Blanco A, Cañizal G, Moreno-Ger P, Fernández-Manjón B (2008) <e-Adventure3D>: An open source authoring environment for 3D adventure games in education. Proceedings of the 2008 International Conference on Advances in Computer Entertainment Technology

  34. Toups ZO, Kerne A, Hamilton W, Blevins A (2009) Emergent team coordination: from fire emergency response practice to a non-mimetic simulation game, Proceedings of the ACM 2009 International Conference on Supporting Group Work (GROUP’09), ACM Press

  35. Unity Technologies (2015) Unity 3D, http://unity3d.com/ Last accessed May 4, 2015

  36. Venkatesh V, Davis FD (1996) A model of the antecedents of perceived ease of use: development and test. Decis Sci 27:451–481

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Virvou M, Katsionis G (2007) On the usability and likeability of virtual reality games for education: the case of VR-ENGAGE. Comput Educ 50(1):154–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Virvou M, Katsionis G, Manos K (2005) Combining software games with education: evaluation of its educational effectiveness. Ed Technol Soc 8(2):54–65

    Google Scholar 

  39. Von Hippel EA (2005) Democratizing innovation. MIT Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  40. Westera W, Nadolski RJ, Hummel HGK, Wopereis IGJH (2008) Serious games for higher education: a framework for reducing design complexity. J Comput Assist Learn 24(5):420–432

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Zarraonandia T, Díaz P, Aedo I, Ruiz Vargas MR (2015) Designing educational games through a conceptual model based on rules and scenarios, Multimedia Tools & Applications, Ed: Springer US, 74 (13):4535–4559

  42. Zhang W, Jarzabek S (2005) Reuse without compromising performance: industrial experience from RPG software product line for mobile devices, Software Product Lines, Springer

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work is supported by the project CREAx funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (TIN2014-56534-R).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Computer Science Department, University Carlos III of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Telmo Zarraonandia, Paloma Diaz & Ignacio Aedo

Authors
  1. Telmo Zarraonandia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Paloma Diaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ignacio Aedo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Telmo Zarraonandia.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zarraonandia, T., Diaz, P. & Aedo, I. Using combinatorial creativity to support end-user design of digital games. Multimed Tools Appl 76, 9073–9098 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11042-016-3457-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11042-016-3457-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation