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Researchers use VR gaming for balance rehab programs

University of Queensland researcher Achintha Abayasiri is exploring how virtual reality (VR) games, like VR table tennis, can enhance balance rehabilitation by making exercises more engaging and effective. His study assessed participants’ balance using a VR headset while introducing subtle visual challenges to encourage postural adjustments.

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Digital games facilitate learning about mental illness

A study by media psychologists from the University of Cologne found that digital games can effectively educate people—especially those without depression—about the illness and reduce stigma. Participants who watched game clips about depression reported increased knowledge, emotional impact (like sadness and empathy), and motivation to learn more.

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Using game elements in learning: enhancing digital healthcare education through intentional design

Gamification adds game elements like points, feedback, and storylines to non-game learning contexts, while game-based learning uses actual gameplay to enhance knowledge and skills. Both approaches boost motivation, engagement, and real-world skill development when thoughtfully aligned with learning goals.

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Join the 2026 Board Game Design Virtual Summit

The 2026 Board Game Design Virtual Summit (Feb 3–9) offers aspiring and experienced designers expert insights, live Q&As, and lifetime access to sessions. Hosted by Joe Slack, the event features 20+ industry leaders covering game development, publishing, crowdfunding, and more. Multiple pass options are available, including free access.

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Real-world map data is helping make better games about farms and transportation

City Bus Manager uses real-world OpenStreetMap (OSM) data to simulate public transportation in players’ actual cities, creating a strong emotional connection and sense of responsibility. Similar games like Global Farmer and NIMBY Rails use OSM to allow players to manage farms or rail systems in familiar locations.

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USask team wins international teaching award for Canadian history game

A University of Saskatchewan team developed Homesteaders, a tabletop game that immerses players in the challenges of prairie settlement in late 19th- and early 20th-century Canada. Designed to foster historical empathy and awareness of systemic inequality, the game won the 2025 D2L Innovation Award in Teaching and Learning.

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Modern-Day Lynchings: The Long History of Gamified White Supremacist Terrorism

The 2022 Buffalo mass shooting, livestreamed by white supremacist Payton Gendron, reflects a disturbing historical pattern of racialised violence designed for public spectacle. From 19th-century lynchings to modern digital massacres, white supremacists have exploited communication technologies—newspapers, telephones, social media—to publicise, gamify, and celebrate violence against Black people.

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