Minecraft, originally a popular video game, is now being used to develop advanced artificial intelligence (AI). Its open-ended nature provides a rich environment for AI systems to learn and experiment.
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In 1977, archaeologists uncovered a 4,500-year-old board game at the Shahr-i Sokhta site in southeastern Iran, dating to 2600–2400 BCE. The game, featuring 20 circular spaces, 27 geometric pieces, and four dice, offers a glimpse into ancient entertainment.
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The rise of digital classrooms is transforming education by making learning more personalized and adaptable to individual needs. Traditional classrooms often use a one-size-fits-all approach, but digital tools like learning management systems, adaptive algorithms, and interactive content enable students to learn at their own pace, with real-time adjustments based on their performance.
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Tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) heavily rely on dice and probability, yet the impact of dice mechanics on gameplay has not been deeply explored academically. This article compares combat effectiveness across TTRPG systems, examining how probability and dice mechanics influence character success.
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In the 1990s, video games were viewed with skepticism, often associated with negative outcomes. However, over time, video games have evolved, shifting from single-player experiences to live service games designed to keep players engaged for long periods, often through psychological techniques and in-game purchases like loot boxes.
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Dr. Angela Chia-Chen Chen, a physician at MSU, developed an engaging mobile game called "HPV Detective" to educate patients about the HPV vaccine. Recognizing that many patients ignore traditional health brochures and flyers, Dr. Chen aimed to meet them where they are—on their devices.
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This paper explores how Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) integrates the vampire tradition, particularly through the character of Strahd von Zarovich, while challenging its own mechanics. It examines how D&D’s alignment system, morality, and agency interact with and complicate the portrayal of vampires, specifically Strahd, in comparison to literary figures like Dracula.
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Every November, the small town of Mirano, Italy, celebrates St. Martin’s Day with a quirky tradition called the Zogo dell’Oca, or "goose game." This event transforms the central square into a giant board game, where teams in striped jerseys compete in bizarre challenges, all dressed in 19th-century attire.
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In The Rule Book: The Building Blocks of Games, Jaakko Stenros and Markus Montola explore the foundational aspects of games through a constructionist ludology lens. They introduce five categories of rules—formal, internal, social, external regulation, and material rules—to analyze game structures.
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Serious games are designed for purposes beyond entertainment, helping players learn important topics like climate change, health management, and safety practices. For example, a modified "Mario Bros" game teaches children about managing type-1 diabetes.
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Chahd Ourhani, an eighth grader at Joseph H. Brensinger PS 17, found augmented reality (AR) lessons more engaging and effective for learning math concepts like slope compared to traditional methods. Her teacher, Jack Maher, incorporates AR, VR, and gamification into lessons, using free online resources from Verizon Innovative Learning HQ.
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Educational, serious, learning, and transformational games each serve unique purposes in game design. Educational games focus on imparting knowledge, typically used in formal settings to reinforce curriculum content. Serious games address real-world issues, often for training or policy simulation.
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In the 1970s, a 4,500-year-old complete board game was discovered in a grave in Shahr-i Sokhta, Iran, making it the oldest of its kind. The game includes a board with 20 circular spaces, four dice, and 27 geometric pieces.
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Self-help books often focus more on profit than practical advice, but gamification offers a proven alternative for achieving goals. By using variable reward systems, like those in casino gambling, people become highly motivated to repeat behaviors, fostering habit formation.
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Gamification, the integration of game-like elements into education and training, has gained significant popularity for boosting engagement and motivation. By incorporating rewards, milestones, and challenges, gamified systems foster competition, achievement, and recognition, which in turn increases productivity and retention.
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At 40, Tim Clare was diagnosed with autism, and he reflects on how his lifelong love of board games helped him navigate a world that often felt confusing. Games provided structure and a way to connect with others, filling social gaps and reducing anxiety.
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"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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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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Since its debut in 2011, Cards Against Humanity has sparked a trend in bold, typographic tabletop games, contributing to the growth of a $27 billion industry. While the success of such games has led to copycats, it also created new opportunities for game publishers to experiment.
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Rebecca Preyra, overwhelmed by the feedback on her first study, was inspired to help others navigate the review process. After joining Teresa Chan's lab, they created Dear Reviewer 2, a card game designed to teach junior researchers how to respond to reviewer comments.
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