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Groundbreaking card game celebrates AAPI representation

"Trailblazer Heroes," a cooperative card game developed by a team at Teachers College, Columbia University, celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) heritage. Guided by Professor Joey Lee, the game aims to empower young people by sharing positive examples of AAPI contributions across various fields like science, art, and politics.

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Sky’s the Limit: New Game Design Minor Teaches Accessibility

Dr. Sky LaRell Anderson, a faculty member at the University of St. Thomas, emphasized the importance of accessibility in video games during the Jon Henner Memorial Accessibility in Games Speaker Series. Using a Twitch livestream, Anderson highlighted how games should be designed to be inclusive of individuals with disabilities, advocating for features like subtitles, input remapping, and adjustable difficulty.

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Man uses simulation game to show ancient irrigation project

A viral video created by Liu Yong, a gaming enthusiast from Shandong, uses a simulation game to explain the workings of Dujiangyan, the world’s oldest irrigation system, built in 256 BC. Liu spent two days gathering information and designing the video, which demonstrates how Dujiangyan controls water distribution using its dam-free structure.

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ASL Aspire wants to gamify STEM education for deaf kids

ASL Aspire, a startup launched in 2022, aims to address the literacy challenges faced by the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, particularly in STEM education. The company, founded by Ayesha Kazi and Mona Jawad, focuses on developing STEM curricula with standardized American Sign Language (ASL) vocabulary for teachers to integrate into their lessons.

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NMSU Extension launches ‘Learning Games Lab Toolkit’

The New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service developed the "Learning Games Lab Toolkit," a free online resource launched in September 2024. The toolkit, based on two decades of experience in educational media creation and youth collaboration, provides educators with strategies for using digital games and tools effectively.

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Make it fun, make it count: how serious games help cut food waste

In a 2021 experiment at Aalborg University, students participated in “Face-the-Waste,” a game about food waste, which sparked strong emotional reactions, including anger and insults, as food was discarded with every wrong answer. This highlighted the effectiveness of games in addressing environmental issues over dry facts.

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Let’s seriously game higher education to tackle the challenges ahead

Higher education plays a crucial role in addressing future societal challenges like climate change and an aging population. Serious gaming has emerged as a powerful method to engage students, professionals, and the public in exploring solutions to these "tomorrow problems." By using tabletop or board-game-style mechanisms, serious games facilitate learning, creative thinking, and collaboration.

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Gamergate 2.0: Experts explain why harassment and vitriol hurt everyone who loves games

Bioware's Dragon Age: The Veilguard was meant to be a redemption for the studio but sparked controversy after being targeted by a vocal anti-diversity group, reminiscent of the Gamergate movement. This "Gamergate 2.0" backlash, criticizing diversity in games, continues to influence the gaming industry.

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