Introduction to the Serious Games, gamification and innovation minitrack

Serious Games are often considered to be technological applications that use games to engage individuals in an experience through which a learning or professional training aim can be explored. Serious Games use computer-mediated environments to facilitate experiential learning by simulating a real life business environment, enabling participants to explore the complexities of a business problem, including the emotional challenges. A benefit is that the learner has the opportunity to explore the dynamics of a business experience without the real life business and career consequences that may flow from failure. This provides learners with a ‘safe' environment in which to explore the casual links between action and outcomes that can assist in the process of converting conceptual learning into application. In the innovation perspective, concepts such as serious gaming or gamification are the most interesting for this domain. Serious Gaming repurposes a game via different methods, in order to offer activities that go beyond mere entertainment and Gamification uses game design to enhance individual's willingness to participate to originally non-playful experiences.