Game design for values education

This research project examines three major approaches for values education (VE) - i.e. character education, moral development, and values clarification, and their relevance to the design of games, which seek to teach values and build awareness on complex moral problems. The study aims to establish whether the traditional field of VE could provide helpful insights into the conscientious design of games for change (G4Cs) and the consistent moral education of players. The study begins with a thematic analysis of the three approaches of VE, which is attempted to be inclusive, considering the following key aspects of each approach: the philosophical ground, the recommended practices and the critiques. The results of this analysis are systematized into a theoretical model, which is named VEGA (Values Education for Games Analysis) model. This model is then used for three case studies, an in-depth game analysis of three contemporary G4Cs: Power Explorer (Interactive Institute, 2008), The Movement (Basa e.V., 2009) and Urgent: Evoke (World Bank Institute, 2010).
The empirical evidence indicates that the VEGA model is helpful for a deep analysis of games teaching values, as it discloses moral aspects that have not been considered before and otherwise would be hidden. The empirical studies demonstrate in this way the applicability of the VEGA model as an instrument of game analysis for G4Cs. Furthermore, the research question can be answered; the field of VE can be helpful in identifying and describing the moral educational aspects of the design of G4Cs, guiding towards a more conscientious design of G4Cs. Seeking to provide some more design-oriented moral guidance, this study proceeds to exemplarily create a pattern language and a small library of patterns for designing games for VE. These newly developed game design patterns are put into practice by guiding the design of a new G4C - Epilogi In Crisis (Tramus et al., 2014) - which can be considered as a proof of concept for their future utility.