Developing a Toolkit to Game Design: The Gamers4Nature Project: from Concept to Artefact

Abstract

In a context where the involvement of youngers in the development of games is seen as an effective way to promote a deeper identification and engagement with the educational content, the Gamers4Nature project introduces a Toolkit designed to support youngsters in the creation of mobile digital games addressing environmental and biodiversity preservation. The Gamers4Nature Toolkit to Game Design includes a set of resources developed to support younger audiences in the creation of digital games: a Game Construction Cards Set, a Rapid Game Design Document and thematic cards, presented in a cardboard box. This paper reports on the methodological approach used for the design and evaluation of the Toolkit to Game Design. All resources were developed following a participatory design approach, with experts (n=18) and potential end-users (n=83) involved in the design and evaluation process. Preliminary results indicate that the Toolkit to Game Design is seen as an engaging and useful approach to game creation, able to be adopted in schools, Universities and environmental organizations activities.