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The legacy — and future — of the farming game Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley, created solely by Eric Barone (ConcernedApe), is a peaceful farming simulator embraced by over 41 million players for its relaxing gameplay and nostalgic charm. Inspired by Harvest Moon, Barone developed the pixel-art game during a period of unemployment, aiming to offer players a soothing, nature-based escape from modern life.

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Designing for Entry-Level Players: How Minimum Deposit Casinos Reflect Principles of Onboarding in Learning Games

Accessible design has become essential on gaming and learning platforms. Low-deposit casino lessons instill the lesson of reduced barriers in creating engagement, which aligns with onboarding in the learning world.

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Chris Chen publishes research on using gaming to foster prosocial behavior and combat bullying

Cheng “Chris” Chen, assistant professor at Elon University, co-authored a study exploring how narrative-driven game design can influence prosocial intentions, particularly regarding school bullying. Published in Media and Communication, the research found that players who assume the role of a bully and make narrative decisions show increased empathy and prosocial intent toward victims.

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Park City students help develop interactive, critical thinking-based history games

Two Park City High School students, Taylor Bergman and Garrett Moreno, helped create interactive history games through the PCCAPS program, which connects students with real-world business projects. Partnering with Victoria Sanders of Elephanta Education, they contributed to developing and testing the "Brave" game series aimed at middle and high school students.

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Academy cadets win People’s Choice award

U.S. Air Force Academy cadets Michaela Kovalsky and Kieran McCauley won the People’s Choice award at the 2024 Serious Games Showcase & Challenge during the I/ITSEC conference in Orlando. They developed the Land Engagement Adjudication Platform (LEAP), a simulation tool used in the Academy’s Multi-Domain Laboratory to support wargaming and force employment strategy training.

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