Instructional Characteristics and Motivational Features of a PC-based Game

摘要

The purpose of the research was to identify and assess instructional and motivational features of a first-person-perspective game environment. The game used was 'America's Army', a popular PC-based game developed by the U.S. Army to inform 'recruiting age' individuals about the Army. Twenty-one participants first completed a pre-game questionnaire that assessed prior knowledge of information presented in the game, after which they played the 'basic training' sections of the game. Then, participants answered questions regarding information presented during the game and about motivational aspects of the game. Participants recalled procedures better than facts. Information relevant to the progression of the game was recalled better than information that was not. Graphic images and spoken text were recalled more accurately than printed text. Realism, challenge, exploration, and control were factors that influenced motivation. The findings of the current research were specific to a single PC-based first-person-perspective game, but were in agreement with a broad range of research using other types of games and instructional media.