Constructivist Game Design in Virtual Worlds'

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Constructivist Game Design in Virtual Worlds.
James M. Bower CEO and CVO
Numedeon Inc.
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Designing Games for the Brain
STIMULATE
MOTIVATE
ENGAGE
LEARN
ENTERTAIN
BRAIN
CONNECT
PRESERVE
SOCIALIZE
EMPOWER
CARE
COMMUNICATE


numedeon, inc.


numedeon, inc.
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Designing Games for the Brain
Open Ended
Didactic


numedeon, inc.


numedeon, inc.
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Designing Games for the Brain
2-way
Broadcast


numedeon, inc.


numedeon, inc.
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Designing Games for the Brain
A unique form of chat and social interaction
is a primary draw Gender Differences in
the Perception and Use of an Informal Science
Learning Web Site.


numedeon, inc.


numedeon, inc.
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2,000,000 Feb. 2007
1,000,000 Dec. 2004
Launch May 1999
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
2005
2006
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Whyville Census - 2006

• Page Views 1 Billion
• Visits 35-40 Million
• Monthly Hours Per Unique User 3.5
• Total Hours Spent 5 Million
• Girls to Boys 3 to 2 ratio
• Ages 8 to 15
• Chat Phrases Spoken 500 Million

Working For Clams in Whyville A safety enhanced
virtual world for teens and preteens allows kids
to buy cool cyber-gear
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Percent users by age and gender
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• Science/Math ?
• Social?
• Competitive?
• Difficult?

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A Real Community
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Y-POX
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Y-POX
achoo
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WHYPOX TALKING ABOUT WHYPOX
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Citizens With Whypox
CDC users
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Virtual Playgrounds Playing and Learning with
Science in Multi Player Online Communities ?by
Yasmin Kafai Michael Giang Of Monsters and
Sick Computers Children?s Folk Conceptions of a
Computer Virus ?by Yasmin Kafai Patterns of
Engagement in Simulating a Virtual Epidemic ?by
David Feldon Joanna Gilmore A Case Study of
Participating in a Virtual Epidemic?by Nina
Neulight, Yasmin Kafai, Linda Kao Brian
Foley The Value of Looks versus Health
Observations of Economic Interactions during a
Virtual Epidemic?by Yasmin Kafai
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WhyPox Vaccine Economics
109,060 trades made 150 vials traded for gt1000
clams 2 vials traded for 5000 clams Mode 172
trades at 500 and 200 clams
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Bio-Technoloy

• Builds on existing WhyPox activity a yearly,
  epidemiologically correct outbreak in Whyville
• Virtual Biotech company will seek vaccine for
  WhyPox
• Includes drug compound search, data crunch,
  human trials and go-to-market
• Learning by doing (constructivist) pedagogy.

achoo
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The WhyPox IDENTIFIED!
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Whyville Sponsors


numedeon, inc.