Employing Social Interactions of Multiplayer Role-Playing Games in a Serious Game

Abstract

Collaborative games prompt players to work together, communicating, coordinating, and assisting each other; such features make them suitable for learning purposes. Although several suggestions have been made to design serious collaborative games, the RPGs’ social interactions have not yet been explored in the context of science learning. This study evaluated a multiplayer game that integrates chemistry content in the gameplay mechanics of adventure games and RPGs. Twelve game testers participated in the evaluation process, constructing five groups: two groups of three persons and three groups of two. The players downloaded and installed the game on their computers, and then they played it. The results from the qualitative data confirmed that the clearly defined rules system facilitated teamwork through constant coordination and communication, making playing a pleasant experience. In addition, each player progressed his/her character through individual activities, promoting active collaboration in the missions’ accomplishment. Thus, the social character of RPGs has the potential to support the design of collaborative learning settings.