Game Based Learning: motivations to learn and play. The reason for studying motivation within game studies is its value to game design and education.

As game designer’s work greatly consist on ‘keeping players playing’, knowledge of human motivation is key to creating an enduring play experience. Likewise, within the field of educational research: motivation is key to ‘a life long learning’ experience, or in other words: creating an enduring learning experience. That is why, within a PhD on Serious Games & Education, a focus on motivational features and motivation in general, makes sense to describe design methods for creating enduring experiences.

Deen & Schouten (in press) pointed out that playing a serious game might change the player’s motivation towards learning. I am wondering which motivational shift takes place, which parameters are responsible for this shift and how we can develop serious games that stimulate a positive shift in motivation for learning.

The research by design method will be iterative in nature:

• Literature research towards motivation for playing and learning.
  • Formulating design principles for serious games from game theory, pedagogy and developmental psychology.
• Research & Design.
  • Designing serious games according to the above design principles.
• Usability, Player and Effect testing.
  • Conducting empirical research with player groups to validate the design principles and reformulate when necessary.

The outcome of the research will:

• Directly affect the curriculum
  • The initial concept of gaming will be formulated from the research Courses will be designed, based on research outcomes
  • A course on ‘feedback design in serious games’
  • A course on ‘serious game design principles’
  • A course on ‘conceptual design

• Several prototypes will be developed, which may lead to actual serious games.
• An overview will be constructed on best practices of serious games
• A symposium will be organized about ‘games and motivation’