Lead Game Designer and Writer.
Funded by Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program through Curtin University, Certitude is a web-based, 2D game that has been designed to develop digital and information literacy amongst its players.
Through the game, players are introduced to the importance of referencing, cross-checking information, and keeping an eye on details to assist in real-world research situations. The game takes advantage of narrative and rewards to engage the user throughout the 4 levels.
I took inspiration from the games ‘Headliner,’ ‘Papers, Please,’ and ‘Orwell,’ as they take players through mundane tasks while keeping them engaged. Level One is designed as an introductory level, that presents two simple tasks for players to perform. And then, Levels Two and Three increase the number of tasks, while the final level, Level Four, focuses a little more on narrative. Feedback is provided to the player via an in-game monetary system that allows them to buy items for their office, as well as through narrative via dialogue in the office scene and via emails within the desktop scene.
Games for Change Asia-Pacific 2021
Making the Mundane Fun: Creating a Game for Information and Digital Literacy
In this presentation, Karen and Rebecca will be discussing the game they created for the Curtin University Library, Certitude (2020). They will discuss the design processes involved in creating a serious game for new university students that introduces and develops the player's concepts around digital and information literacy. Drawing on elements of other similar games, they will show how a narrative-based interactive game can make a mundane and dry topic, such as library skills, more enjoyable to learn. In the game, the player acts as a fact-checker for Certitude, a fictional digital publishing company, and must evaluate the articles written by Certitude’s writers to ensure that only accurate and presentable information is published by the company, and that information sources are acknowledged and referenced correctly. The gameplay demonstration will illustrate game design conventions by highlighting the core mechanics of puzzles and rewards.
Certitude is available at certitude.ourplaylab.com.