1.
.
A Primer on Play
brought to you by Bottom-Line Performance, Inc.
Featuring the
Knowledge Guru™
Game engine

2.
Your Game Masters…aka presenters
Sharon Boller
President
Lead designer, Knowledge Guru™ game
engine.
Steve Boller
Marketing Strategist
Developer, MobileConnect Guru game

3.
Using Your Controls
You’ll be able to
see YOUR
responses/questio
ns….but not
anyone else’s.
They won’t see
yours either.

4.
What do we even MEAN by game?
An activity that has an explicit goal or challenge, rules that
guide achievement of the goal, interactivity with either other
players or the game environment (or both), and feedback
mechanisms that give clear cues as to how well or poorly you
are performing. It results in a quantifiable outcome (you
win/you lose, you hit the target, etc). Usually generates an
emotional reaction in players.

5.
• My organization currently uses game-based learning
(GBL).
• My organization wants to implement game-based
learning.
• I want to learn more about designing them.
• My organization doesn’t understand the value of
game-based learning.
• In my organization, games = frivolous.
A Poll – What’s True for You?

6.
When I say game-based
learning, you think…?
• Video game or computer-based, desktop or laptop
game.
• Board game
• Team-building or experiential game
• Mobile game for tablet or phone.
• Simulation

7.
Here’s some examples we’ve produced
A Paycheck Away: A tabletop game about homelessness

8.
Here’s some examples we’ve produced
The Grower Game: A digital game about growing rice

9.
Here’s some examples we’ve produced
The Grower Game: A digital game about growing rice

10.
Here’s some examples we’ve produced
Destroy the BBP: Avoiding blood-borne pathogens

11.
Today’s agenda

12.
• Hermann Ebbinghaus (1885) – exponential nature of forgetting.
• Ability to retain information declines over time. In “schoolbook” or training
settings, most students only remember about 10% after 3-6 days, meaning 90%
gets lost WITHOUT REINFORCEMENT or OTHER MEANS. Red = no reinforcement.
The Forgetting Curve

13.
Why games?
Play Game
“I learned SO
much by playing
this game. It was
tons of fun. I
learned more by
playing this game
than any
webinar, meeting,
or document I’ve
encountered.”
“Mind-
blowing”
“Can you
create
more stuff
like this?”

14.
Why do games work?
The short answer?

15.
Why do games work?
Because they are
FUN.

16.
But what’s FUN?
• Winning
• Achieving goals
• Triumphing
• Collaborating
• Exploring and building
• Collecting
• Problem-solving or strategizing
• Role playing or imagining
• Surprise – surprising others and
being surprised ourselves.

17.
What’s Required to Learn?
Relevant
Practice
Specific, timely feedback
Ability
to
retrieve
later
Risk of
Forgetting
Curve!!!

18.
Examples: Feedback Loops
“The premise of a
feedback loop is
simple: Provide people
with information
about their actions in
real time, then give
them a chance to
change those
actions, pushing them
toward better
behaviors.”
Wired Magazine, June
19, 2011
www.bottomlineperformance.com

19.
Linking Games to Learning
Learning Element Game Elements that Match
Motivation Game goals or challenges, conflict, time, cooperation, reward
structures (feedback, points, achievements), - all help equate
to the “fun” in games.
Relevant practice Game goal or challenges, rules within game, reward structures,
game loops
Feedback Pretty much a 1:1 here – reward structures in game supply
feedback. “Game loop” also supplies feedback
Retrieval later Lots of ways games help with retrieval: Context, story, desire for
repeat play, emotion attached to game play.

20.
Today’s agenda

21.
ExactTarget (NYSE: ET)
They have:
 1,500 employees worldwide
 250,000 users worldwide
 500 + partners worldwide

22.
Why ExactTarget wanted our Guru game
1. Multiple Product Lines and Multiple Product Launches
• 9 distinct product lines within organization
• Product line releases each month
2. Employees, clients, and partners had training overload;
ET needed to find a way to “mix it up.”
3. MobileConnect was one of the largest product launches
ever. Critical to educate folks.
4. ET’s Scott Thomas had played Guru; liked it. Wanted to
try it.

23.
What is the Knowledge Guru?
A solution to a problem we’ve seen a lot with our
clients.

24.
What is the Knowledge Guru?
A solution to a problem we’ve seen a lot with our
clients.

25.
What is the Knowledge Guru?
A solution to a problem we’ve seen a lot with our
clients.

26.
What is the Knowledge Guru?
A solution to a problem we’ve seen a lot with our
clients.

27.
We wanted…
For people to be able to PLAY.
For them to LEARN while they played.
For clients to TRACK what people were learning
(or not learning).
And for players to REMEMBER, long after they
played.
Play Game

28.
We wanted…
For people to be able to PLAY.
For them to LEARN while they played.
For clients to TRACK what people were learning
(or not learning).
And for players to REMEMBER, long after they
played.
And…we wanted people to be able to play across multiple
devices: desktop, iPad, or Android tablet via web app or
native app.
We wanted a solution that could work independently of an
LMS…or be Tin Can compliant so it COULD work with an
LMS
Play Game

29.
How Guru does Measurement
Admin tool lets you verify what people do – and don’t get

30.
How Guru does Measurement
Admin tool lets you verify what people do – and don’t get

31.
How Guru does Measurement
Admin tool lets you verify what people do – and don’t get

32.
How Guru does Measurement
Admin tool lets you verify what people do – and don’t get

33.
How Guru does Measurement
Admin tool lets you verify what people do – and don’t get

34.
Positioning the game
2.
Marketed the
heck out of it.
1. Reinforcement tactic
rather than primary
learning method.

35.
Positioning the game (cont.)
3. Required in some
functional units.
4. Provided managers
with idea kits.
5.
Drew attention to
leaderboards on a
regular basis.

36.
What Did Folks Say…
The game was great! It was
a fun way to learn about
MobileConnect. I enjoyed the
scenario-type
questions, which put it all in
perspective.

37.
What Did Folks Say…
The game was great! It was
a fun way to learn about
MobileConnect. I enjoyed the
scenario-type
questions, which put it all in
perspective.
I’m a pretty competitive
person, so challenging myself
to get one of the top scores
added a layer of fun to learning
about the MobileConnect
product.

38.
What Did Folks Say…
The game was great! It was
a fun way to learn about
MobileConnect. I enjoyed the
scenario-type questions,
which put it all in
perspective.
I’m a pretty competitive
person, so challenging myself
to get one of the top scores
added a layer of fun to learning
about the MobileConnect
product.The repetition of the
different paths helped me
retain the information.

39.
Business Results…
Annika, Age 8

40.
Business Results…
Annika, Age 8

41.
Business Results…
Annika, Age 8

42.
Today’s agenda

43.
Sounds GREAT but how do I get started?
Play games;
evaluate what you
are playing
Get familiar w/
game elements &
how to use them.
Think about the
learning – and
then the game.
Dump ADDIE. Go
agile instead.
Playtest.Playtest.
Did I say playtest?

44.
Play games; evaluate what you are playing

45.
Play games; evaluate what you are playing

46.
Get familiar with game elements &
how to use them
Goal Story Aesthetics Resources
Time* Conflict Competition Cooperation
Dynamics Levels Boundaries Outcome
Rules &
Procedures
Reward
Structures

47.
Define learning need, then game
concepts

48.
Define learning need, then game
concepts
 What problem are you trying to solve?
 Is it a learning problem…or caused by something else?
 What does learner need to know/do to achieve game outcome?
 What is current skill level of players?
 What are the logistics re: when/how game will be played?
 What are technical requirements/constraints?
You start by asking the same questions you would ask for
other learning solutions:

49.
Define learning need, then game
concepts
 What problem are you trying to solve?
 Is it a learning problem…or caused by something else?
 What does learner need to know/do to achieve game outcome?
 What is current skill level of players?
 What are the logistics re: when/how game will be played?
 What are technical requirements/constraints?
You start by asking the same questions you would ask for
other learning solutions:

50.
Dump ADDIE; go agile instead (iterative)
Playtest. Playtest. Did I say playtest?

51.
Dump ADDIE; go agile instead (iterative)
Playtest. Playtest. Did I say playtest?

52.
Dump ADDIE; go agile instead (iterative)
Playtest. Playtest. Did I say playtest?

53.
Splash/title
screen
Phil screen –
game
orientation
Territory or
orientation
?
Overview of
formulations
Formulations game (territory
map) with 5 customer sites
available. (4 sites grayed out on
first entrance).
Once a customer is selected from territory map….
Easy to
hard, challeng
e, or back to
main map?
Question 1:
multiple
choice
Question 1
feedback
Question 2:
multiple
choice
Question 3:
multiple
choice
Question 2
feedback
Question 3
feedback
Challenge
scenario
Ask
customer
questions
Talk to Phil
Review past
issue
Respond
Within challenge scenario, learner can return to main
“challenge” screen from any of the four “options” screens listed
here. They will increase their customer satisfaction and sales
scores the more things they check out. When they respond
incorrectly, they will detract from their customer sat and sales
and increase customer complaints. A correct response will
increase customer sat and sales and decrease customer
complaints. They cannot leave challenge until they’ve responded
to customer.
Learners can choose from two paths: easy to
hard or straight to the challenge. In “easy to
hard” path, learners receive 3 multiple-choice
questions. Correct responses will improve
customer sat and sales and decrease
complaints. Incorrect responses will have the
opposite effect. After completing “easy,”
learners can return to main map or go onto
the challenge scenario.
At start of course, learner sees “splash” screen
with course title and then is greeted by Phil, the
learning agent. Phil orients learner to purpose
of game and then offers choice: get overview of
formulations or go straight to territory and game
play. Doing orientation FIRST will improve sat
and sales ratings and decrease complaints. From
orientation, learner can also travel to territory.

54.
Raul’s Easy Questions
You answered all easy questions –
return to Customer home
Customer home

55.
Insert challenge description here.
Raul: Can I store this?
Raul has questions related to storage. Your
potential sales with Raul are 180,000
gilders.
You can start with easy questions or try
the challenge right away.
Answer easy questions

56.
Ask Raul questions
Question 1
Question 2
Question 3
Question 4
Customer home

57.
Customer home
Talk to Phil

58.
Customer home
Review Raul’s past issue
Past issue described here.

59.
Respond to Raul:

60.
Rough/Dirty mockups of game flow.
65

61.
We hate to be the bearers of bad
news, but something BAD is about to
happen.
66
Game Opening. Would
dissolve into opportunity
to select expert cohort.

62.
Before calamity strikes, please select from
among these highly qualified experts to assist
you.
67
Dr. Steve Music

63.
68
Newscast video
Once expert cohort selected, player is taken to screen with video player. Video
auto launches. AT conclusion of video, you’re “taken” directly to bunker (next
slide)

64.
Expert’s bunker: start here. Click Map to see all Recruitment Center
locations. Bunker will be on map. Player returns to bunker between levels
to exchange resources
69
Expert’s directions
communicated via
talk bubbles.
Resource Shelf
Brief Case
Game
map
Available powerups
X X X
No.ofexperts
Your
tally
Martians’
tally

65.
Game Map
70Brief Case
Game
map
Available power-ups
X X X
No.ofexperts
Your
tally
Martians’
tally
Recruitment
Center 1
Recruitment
Center 2
Recruitment
Center 3
Recruitment
Center 4
Recruitment
Center 5
Dr. Music’s
bunker

66.
Level Map
71Brief Case
Game
map
Available power-ups
X X X
No.ofexperts
Your
tally
Martians’
tally
Recruitment
Center 1
Alien’s directions/explanatory
info communicated via talk
bubbles.
Icon/Thumbnail
for mini-game
Icon/Thumbnail
for mini-game
Icon/Thumbnail
for mini-game
Icon/Thumbnail
for mini-game

67.
Mini Game
72Brief Case
Game
map
Available power-ups
X X X
No.ofexperts
Your
tally
Martians’
tally
Back to Recruitment Center
“Mini-game – earn 1, 2, or 3 stars
based on performance.
Expert
cohort
Great way to get us all killed!
Check XYZ in your briefcase try
again if you want anyone to
survive.

68.
Want More? Tell us via poll
• I want more info on workshops or tools that can help
me learn how to learn to design learning games.
• I want more info on using Knowledge Guru to create
games.
• I want info on online resources that can help me
learn more about game-based learning and serious
games.
• I’m good with what I got – nothing further for me.

69.
Want more?

70.
Want more?

71.
Want more?
August 28, 2013 – Indianapolis, IN
Play games;
evaluate
learning /fun
factors?
Link games to learning;
identify appropriate
reward structures and
best games types for
various situations
Master the lingo;
create your own
learning game.
Playtest your paper
prototype; revise.

72.
What else can I do?
I can’t go to those workshops. How else can I get help?
• Call us or email us; we can do a learning game design
work shop for your specific project:
– (317) 861-5935; we can help you get started!
– sharon@bottomlineperformance.com
• Stay on our email list; we send stuff out monthly:

73.
Quiz Time!

74.
Q1) What 4 things are required for people to
Learn?
Relevant
Practice
Specific, timely feedback
Ability
to
retrieve
later

75.
Q2) What game elements link to the learning
elements?
Learning Element Game Elements that Match
Motivation Game goals or challenges, conflict, time, cooperation, reward
structures (feedback, points, achievements), - all help equate
to the “fun” in games.
Relevant practice Game goal or challenges, rules within game, reward structures,
game loops
Feedback Pretty much a 1:1 here – reward structures in game supply
feedback. “Game loop” also supplies feedback
Retrieval later Lots of ways games help with retrieval: Context, story, desire for
repeat play, emotion attached to game play.

76.
Q3) What % of information do people forget
after 3 days w/out repetition?
90%

77.
Q4) I mentioned 5 steps for getting started in game
design. How many can you list?
Play games;
evaluate what you
are playing
Get familiar w/
game elements &
how to use them.
Think about the
learning – and
then the game.
Dump ADDIE. Go
agile instead.
Playtest.Playtest.
Did I say playtest?

78.
Final Questions for me?
?????