PhD in Computer Science

Aim of the course is to provide an overview on how we can design digital games and gamified systems tailored to the player's characteristics. In the first part of the course we will outline both implementation (e.g. machine learning and procedural content generation methods) and design techniques (e.g. flowcharts and design patterns) to create personalized games. In the second part, we will describe how personalized games can be used for behavior change purposes. Among various opportunities (serious games, pervasive games, etc.) we will focus on gamification, a novel design technique that uses game elements in non-game contexts. We will illustrate how gamification works and how we can implement personalization in its designs to increase its impact on behavior.

Lesson one: Video games (three hours)
- Introduction

- Player's modeling 
- Adaptive game artificial intelligence and procedural content generation for games
- Game design techniques to create personalized video games

Lesson two: Gamification (three hours)
- Introduction: Serious games, pervasive games and gamification
- Behavior change, personalization and gamification

- Design techniques to create personalized gamified systems for behavior change

- Ethical issues and critical perspectives

Lesson three: Design (three hours)
- The last part will be devoted to a practical exercise in order to design a gamified service exploiting personalized game elements. This part will be conducted as a design work group.

For more information and seminar time-table contact dott. Amon Rapp. 

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