Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
In reading a role-play scenario the descriptions of all the roles are embedded in the
text. The degree of detail on each role's specific characteristics and the description
of the circumstance and situation are dependent up on the length and quality of
the text. In a 2D environment this might include iconic or avatar representation of
characters. These representations could contain a large amount of information about
each character utilizing the methods of content distribution in games; for example,
rollover text to indicate name, role, and status, a symbol above the head to indicate
emotional reactions, or changes in appearance to indicate user progression. A role-
playing scenario could integrate any number of visual representation combinations
to create a complex story for each character.
Though the differences in design strategies can be compared without considering
graphics, visual representation of content is a significant component of game design
and the approach of representing information in visual content also demonstrates a
unique design approach from which e-learning could benefit from.
Visual Representation of Content
The visual element of video games is a major feature for communicating con-
tent, creating a seamless game play experience where the player is challenged
and progresses while “reading” the information being presented in graphics. Game
designers balance the meaning of the graphics so that players are not required to
pay attention to all of the information all of the time but must understand what
the visual information means so the player is able to focus selectively. A well-
designed game distributes and manages visual content to prevent overload while
teaching the correct interpretations of visual information through game play. There
are two aspects of designing visual content for game design that may be useful for
e-learning. A well-designed game uses visual representation of content as objects
to provide explicit and implicit information that help instruct players through game
play. In addition, the visual content of a game consolidates large amounts of content
into accessible pieces of information.
An analysis of how successful games have embedded complex content to be more
easily accessible and made meaningful through graphical representations is evident
in successful game play. A visual icon can represent simple or complex content
but the player develops an understanding of the meaning of the icon through its
relationship with other objects in its environment and through player interaction
with the environment—game play. For example, in RPG games, character types can
represent a wide range of detailed information; race, class, skill sets, attitudes, lan-
guages, etc. The level of detail and amount of information assigned to a character
representation depends on the type of game play, for instance, an NPC that repre-
sents an ongoing quest line will have more detail than an NPC where only a single
player interaction is required. The amount of information assigned is also tied to the
objectives of the game. An avatar in a puzzle game may only act as a vehicle for
communicating specific instruction to the player directly, like a coach. How much
