About this Research Topic

Background

Video games are a popular form of entertainment across several age and cultural groups that is gaining increasing attention in recent years. However, their impact on players' attitudes and behaviors is often overlooked. This call aims to explore the concept of "video games for impact" and present design projects that can change the way we think. Games for impact, as it was introduced as an award category of the Games Awards and as an Academic Consortium launched at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) in the US, represents an exciting new frontier in game design, since it focuses on implemented games and their results. One key factor in the effectiveness of video games for impact is the use of persuasive design elements, such as storytelling, characters, and gameplay mechanics, that are carefully crafted to influence players' attitudes and behaviors. Another important factor is the potential for players to emotionally connect with the game's message and relate to its characters. This emotional connection can lead to increased empathy and understanding of the issues being addressed in the game and may motivate players to take action in their own lives.

There are many ways through which a video game might have a big impact on the community of both players and designers, and this edited volume aspires to collect game design projects that have the potential to change the way we think about and experience games. Main issues include:

- The theory behind video games of impact, including how they can be used to promote behaviors, and challenge negative stereotypes and biases.
- Case studies of video games that have already achieved an impact and identify key design elements that contribute to their effectiveness. For example, the game "Never Alone" successfully managed to introduce the Inupiat culture to the public, using interesting mechanics and collaborative game design.
- Design elements that can be used to achieve a desired impact e.g., social, or environmental issues and the potential impact of these design projects on the gaming industry and society as a whole.
- Discussions on the methodological issues of games evaluation and impact assessment. What are the requirements and design principles for a comprehensive scientific methodology for the evaluation of games for impact? What kind of challenges are we facing and what kind of tools do we have at our disposal?

Therefore, we are inviting the submissions of original papers focused on, but not exclusively, the following topics:

- The impact of video game design elements, such as narrative, character development, and gameplay mechanics, on players' attitudes and behaviors
- The effectiveness of video games in changing players' attitudes and behaviors
- Inclusion and representation in video games
- Games and game design projects aimed at introducing new forms of narrative, new narrative tropes and storytelling techniques.
- The role of games and game design projects that tackle important societal issues, e.g., promoting diversity, inclusion, and challenging stereotypes and biases.
- Games as culture mediators
- Game projects that experiment with new equipment and technologies that could make a difference.
- Games and game design projects with artistic value.
- Serious games that affect attitudes and behaviors, challenges and opportunities of designing video games for educational purposes.
- Interviews from aspiring game creators.
- Reviews of games for impact.

Possible submission types include empirical studies, theoretical contributions and game analysis. All submissions will be peer-reviewed.

Keywords: Video games for impact, Attitudes and behaviors, Game design elements, Serious Games, Narrative and storytelling

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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