Tag

Gamification

Hands-On: Toy Trains VR Successfully Captures Model Train Nostalgia

Toy Trains VR recaptures the childhood magic of model train sets. Here are our full impressions.

Model trains were a familiar sight for me growing up, so Toy Trains didn’t take long to grab my attention. It’s not the project I expected from Something Random, considering the team’s comprised of former Superhot developers, making Toy Trains a pleasant surprise. Having spent over an hour on the Quest 3 version, I believe they’ve created a wonderfully cozy puzzle game.

What immediately struck me is how Toy Trains channels that feeling of childhood nostalgia. These interactive sets include small residents, like an overseer who provides guidance from a hot air balloon. Conversations unfold like a child imagining they’re talking to someone, conveying excitement over simple pleasures like ice cream that cleverly fits the theme. Letters from your absent parents provide a thin narrative as you continue playing in your grandparent’s attic.

So far, I’ve tried four levels, each following a similar structure. Each map centers around a construction site that becomes a landmark for your imagined town, like a city hall or local cinema. Your goal involves delivering materials to the construction site, connecting it to each resident’s house by placing train tracks next to both. Once the route is complete, place a locomotive with attached wagons on the track, then pull a cord to activate it.Toy Trains – Quest 3 screenshot

This straightforward premise holds surprising depth, and I particularly like the open-ended challenges. You aren’t railroaded into a single method as every level contains multiple solutions, though there are a few ground rules to remember. Trees can’t be built over; you can’t merge tracks into an already complete layout, and crossing water requires bridges. This offers a relaxed creativity, letting you take proceedings at your own pace as you work out these puzzles, and more pieces are gradually unlocked after completing levels.

I’m impressed by the game’s design. The only „menu“ available is themed like an instruction booklet, and while there aren’t any comfort settings, Toy Trains doesn’t need them. Instead of simply pressing A for dialogue, residents have little arrows you pull next to their speech bubble to continue or end conversations. It’s the small things that make this premise work, and Toy Trains is a natural fit for VR.

While I can’t speak for other headsets yet, these colorful worlds look great on Quest 3 thanks to a strong presentation. Adding small details upon finishing levels like a campsite, leaves or hay is a nice touch, and I also like the subtle environmental interactions. Putting your hand through the trees feels like brushing it through blades of grass; the water splashes as you dip your hands in, and that’s complemented by great sound design.Toy Trains – Quest 3 screenshot

My only complaint so far is more of a feature request, and that’s me wanting mixed reality support. I’ve got no issues with the attic setting; it’s a charming, fully immersive environment, but I’d love something similar to LEGO Bricktales VR, where you can place that LEGO world on your real-life table. Such an approach for Toy Trains could work well.

Toy Trains arrives on January 16 on PC VR, PSVR 2 and the Meta Quest platform, with a free demo available on Steam. A Pico version will follow, though a release date is unconfirmed.

Quelle:+

18. Januar 2024 0 comment

Knowledge Software/Apps

The ROBLOX Dilemma

What You Must Consider in Marketing Games

Content of the Article:

ABOUT ROBLOX
ROBLOX as a Marketing Platform
3 Roblox Examples – The Good, the Better & the Not So Good

Today, we’ll be discussing Marketing Games and Roblox. Many companies are stepping into the gaming platform, and some even refer to it as the Metaverse (but that’s a different discussion), which I really don’t want to start here.

Unfortunately, on LinkedIn, we often only see what is said about XYZ and not what really lies behind it. It’s all about more appearance than reality, more buzz than actual value! It always depends on what a company focuses on, and some focus on the BUZZ and the appearance – and yes, it works for quite a while… And it’s somehow part of the game. But let’s take a closer look at what Roblox can do in terms of marketing and how individual companies have handled it. Today is ONLY about Roblox, what it is, what it can do, and a few examples.

Let’s get started!

ABOUT ROBLOX

Roblox Games is primarily an online gaming platform and a game development system, allowing users to create and play games made by other users (individuals as well as companies). There are also assets, i.e., items made by users that can be purchased there. The platform enables users to design and program their own games and then share them with a large community. Games range from simple puzzles and adventure games to complex simulations, thus offering a wide range of experiences. In addition to playing and creating, Roblox also offers social interaction opportunities, as users can communicate, form groups, and play together.

Put simply: For the layman, it’s best understood that Roblox is like a giant App Store with social media features. Only, instead of posts, you build interactive games, and additionally, everything that can be used on the platform can also be created by users – everything is, if desired, UGC (User Generated Content). You can also make friends, play games together, and chat.

Roblox is an extremely popular online platform, whose user numbers and demographic data paint an impressive picture of its reach and diversity.

User Numbers and Engagement

In 2023, Roblox had an average of 67.3 million active users daily, representing an annual increase of 22%. The platform recorded 4.6 billion hours of user engagement during the same period. ➡️ More on this
Overall, over 214.2 million people play on Roblox monthly, and users spend an average of about 156 minutes per day on the platform. ➡️ More on this

Demographics & Devices Used by Users

A significant majority of users, about 67%, are under 16 years old. Children under 9 years make up 22% of the user base, while users between 9 and 12 years old comprise 23%, and those between 16 and 24 years old 22%. ➡️ More on this
The gender distribution on Roblox is relatively balanced, with 51% of players being male and 44% female. 5% of users have not specified their gender. ➡️ More on this
The platform can be played on various devices, with mobile devices being the preferred choice for over 79% of users. ➡️ Mehr hierzu

This means, on one hand, Roblox appeals to a younger target group that moves around there. In turn, those who want to advertise their brand there should consider whether the target group they want to reach or (re)activate corresponds to their own target group and products. On the other hand, it means that one must use other channels for marketing (which is also possible directly on Roblox) if one wants to attract a different target group to the platform – because the interest in the experience is so great that one registers with the platform. It is also important to note that the experience should work on mobile devices and consoles and is not just designed for desktop use. Unfortunately, this is often the case with marketing games…

ROBLOX as a Marketing Platform

Brand Presence: Companies can create their own worlds or games on Roblox to interactively present their brand. These can include products, events, or unique experiences related to the brand or products. Imagine a company creating a game on Roblox that resembles a theme park, where each game or attraction is part of its brand or products. This allows users to interact with the brand in a playful way. The goal on Roblox is to create a BRAND EXPERIENCE, not just any marketing spiel, which unfortunately still occurs from time to time, as we will see in one of the examples. And then there’s always the question: „What is success?“
Target Audience Engagement: Roblox has a large and diverse user base, especially in the younger segment. Brands can target specific audiences and engage with them on a platform they are already actively using. As described above in Demographics & Devices Used by Users, brands should consider who their target audience is and how they come to the platform or if they are already there, and what they expect from a Roblox experience.
Sponsorship and Partnerships: Companies can sponsor existing, popular games on Roblox or enter into partnerships with successful game developers to promote their products or services. It’s important to consider in-game items (items in the game) or advertising. Instead of traditional advertising, companies on Roblox can create unique, interactive experiences that immerse users directly in the world of the brand.
Virtual Events: Companies can organize special events or promotional actions on Roblox. These can be virtual concerts, exhibitions, or product presentations.
Merchandising: Companies can sell virtual goods such as clothing, accessories, or other items associated with their brand on Roblox – or bring them in connection with an experience. Likewise, one can work with well-known figures and use UGC (User Generated Content) items, which can then be dropped (made available in the game) depending on user interactions or goals.
Data Analysis and Feedback: By interacting with the brand content on Roblox, companies can collect valuable data and feedback to refine their marketing strategies. But please don’t be tempted to sugarcoat things, because in marketing, one tends to do so – and pure bare numbers don’t always say everything – but rather the conclusions that can be drawn from references, comparisons, and insights, etc.
Support & Maintenance: Companies should also be aware and consider that a Roblox experience requires support and maintenance, just like many other digital products. A Roblox experience should still be maintained as long as it is accessible to users to ensure playability, and this is a cost and project management factor to consider.

Companies approach you wanting to be part of this Metaverse. I must disappoint you, even if Roblox is referred to as a Metaverse, it is not really one yet. It’s a platform among many, and that’s something to consider in marketing, as there are many other platforms to choose from. However, what’s crucial is the closed experience and the freedom of the company to be creative. The best way to imagine these game platforms, which include Minecraft and Fortnite, both of which have a Creative Mode, is as a universe where each game or experience is like its own planet. Each planet has its own rules but follows the same physical conditions.

3 Roblox Examples – The Good, the Better & the Not So Good

I would like to introduce you to three experiences and evaluate them from my personal perspective – here are the criteria:

Data & Facts: What do the numbers look like and what can potentially be inferred from them?
Playability: How well does the game play?
Design & UX: General appearance and experience of the game
Game & Gamification: Which mechanisms were chosen and how do I evaluate them?
Brand Fit for Target Audience: What does the experience do for the brand and the target audience?

THE GOOD

Money Genius Island – Not a pure marketing game, but rather a serious game (edutainment) combined with marketing. Small but mighty. You don’t always need extreme visitor numbers; sometimes it’s about what is done at the core. Not everyone has a marketing budget and a trendy brand to help push the game (which brings us to another point, if no one knows about your Roblox experience, then no one will play it). Who’s behind the game? BW-Bank und Sparkassen, aiming to bring financial literacy closer to children and teenagers. The whole thing was implemented by the EventPunks, a team around Sandra Kiel. Interestingly, the experience seems to be repeatedly adapted and used for various events, which is clever, especially in terms of replayability and maintenance.

Data & Facts: 86.21% positive rating, which is a very good result for the launch of a Roblox game. With 3,686 visits, the game or experience received 47 player favorites. This corresponds to a percentage of about 1.28%.

Playability: The game is easy and well-controlled, which I think is also due to the target audience of children and tweens. Easy to handle, and even if you fall down something more difficult, you don’t die (known from game design as „perceived fairness“). There are quite a few information points and small hints about what to do next. There isn’t exactly a guiding system or wizard, but there is a lot to discover. The user is led through the game with the greatest possible freedom – discovery, I think, has a high value in this game.

Design & UX: The UX and appearance are really sweet and the world is quite large and extensive. The map helps to navigate the world, and there are several mini-games that can also be discovered. I would have wished that when something appears for the first time, one is guided, like a small in-game tutorial, making it easier to understand the basic tasks.

Game & Gamification: This game places a lot of value on curiosity and exploration. It’s not about a leaderboard, but about enjoying playing and through the fun, also developing an interest in financial literacy, or at least understanding a little more of it. No quests are used (at least none that I discovered), which I think would benefit the game at one point or another, but it’s not strictly necessary. However, I think quests would help those who don’t like to discover everything themselves to continue playing and exploring the game.

Brand Fit for Target Audience: Meme potential meets serious banking, which is somehow quite present in this game. From the Japan world, which currently appeals to Gen Z and many others, to no info in the game and not to forget Maxwell the cat (known from TikTok), the experience with its rainbow appearance in a winter wonderland suit is a welcome change from the usual sameness of banks for kids.

THE BETTER

Lamborghini Lanzador Lab was implemented with Flaunt (as far as I could research) and was specifically developed for a product, namely the Lanzador. According to Innovando, the target audience for the experience is between 17 and 24 years old, thus in the older range of Roblox users. However, for Lamborghini, it’s clear that they want to offer fans access that goes beyond a normal configurator, and for this, they use Roblox, where you can not only configure the car but also drive it.

Data & Facts: 86.96% positive rating, which is a very good result for the launch of a Roblox game. With 448,900 visits, the game or experience received 6,782 favorites, which corresponds to a percentage of about 1.51%. This value shows that a small, but significant portion of the visitors rated the experience so positively that they added it to their favorites.

Playability: The experience is both a game and an adventure, and players are guided through it with small tasks (quests). Some details are not so intuitive, such as needing to unlock different colors or gimmicks first, but yes. The open quests also encourage players to explore the experience and interact with various brand information and articles. The shop is more like an exhibition or luxury boutique, which corresponds very well to the brand core.

Design & UX: A really beautiful and appealing 3D look that is lovingly designed. The trailer, which is played at the beginning of the game experience, already gives the player an overview of the highlights. UX is simple, intuitive, and not confusing, you can find everything quite easily, as it should be. You repeatedly get help with displays of what to do next if you don’t know what to do; this is called a wizard system, a helper that guides you through the experience. The language is translated into your language.

Game & Gamification: A mix of various mechanics is used. On the one hand, there’s the concept of quests, tasks that guide you through the game and make up the key features, elements, and the main game; after that, you can clearly continue playing. The quests are kept quite simple, like „Drive 1 lap,“ „Drive 5 laps,“ but that’s completely okay for such a game that primarily serves marketing. It would have been nice to do more around the car and the story of the car and the brand, as the experience would have allowed for it.

Of course, there are also leaderboards and the obligatory social media strategies „Follow me and you get…“ „At XYZ followers, <unicorn> drops“ – false loyalty and engagement, which of course serve only one purpose on Roblox: „credibility“ experience. Because if it’s well-rated, people check it out, or sometimes, if it’s poorly rated, they want to convince themselves. In this case, the numbers speak for themselves, indicating that it is a good experience and is enjoyed playing, or that the extrinsic incentives are large enough to play it again.

Brand Fit for Target Audience: Good brand fit from my perspective. Well done with the merch, the presentation of the car, and the products. Also, the racing game that takes place in the experience. There are different ways for users to interact with the brand and the experience, and one doesn’t have to stupidly follow a single way of playing. Especially nice is that the user is guided through the game at the beginning, which, I think, not everyone likes since some prefer to explore on their own.

For those interested in Roblox and marketing for a specific product, there is much to learn from Lamborghini, not for nothing almost 90% likes.

THE NOT SO GOOD

Let’s move on to Nivea Tower Run.The experience was officially launched a day before Lamborghini and was promoted with its own marketing on the Roblox platform, as well as on LinkedIn by the creators and PR. Which is totally legitimate and good, as I would say the target audience, after playing, is rather mixed, and it’s essential to have a lighthouse project on the Roblox platform from Beiersdorf, in my interpretation – since Minecraft was deemed too uncool and Fortnite too shoot-‚em-up like (which is the case for many companies, and I personally find it very unfortunate, as Fortnite in Creative Mode offers more than just Battle Royale, as you can see mega from the LEGO Group x Fortnite). The creators behind it all are Jung von Matt NERD, who want to reach Gen Z with the experience. Whether this has been successful and whether the expensive marketing and PR with HORIZONT, W&V, Werben & Verkaufen has paid off, let’s take a closer look at it in detail.

Data & Facts: Only 61% find the experience good. On the second day after the launch, it even fell below 50% (which is unfortunately really bad for a Roblox experience). With 383,400 visits, the game or experience received 1,906 favorites. This corresponds to a percentage of about 0.50%. A third compared to Lamborghini’s experience with about 60,000 visitors difference – this tells us a lot about the value of replayability, which was already considered in this experience according to the description. So, what was the issue?

Playability: The outside world is okayish to play, but inside the tower, terrible! Not well playable – how can you build a 3D platformer with such controls?! Not optimal at all – a huge point deduction for house JvM Nerds (I played to much Hogwarts Legacy by Warner Bros. Games recently) .

Outside, the physics are somewhat hard to control since the jumps are quite „lofty“ and long, you tend to fly more. It takes a while to get used to, but the jumps have to be like that, as everything takes place on round islands (probably a nod to Nivea Cream). For players who are not so good at handling everything and also rather new, it is quite frustrating, as you often fall to your death (which may deter someone who is just looking at it from a marketing aspect, causing them to leave the game after a while).

Design & UX: The design itself is really mega beautiful, and the assets are also nicely and appealingly designed. The shop is cute but somewhat loveless, especially compared to Lamborghini, where you can look at and try on items (at the first level of interaction) and get more information about the products, a nice interaction. There are small boxes with information, but only in English. The design is small and nicely adapted to the brand, maybe a bit too much in some places, and reminds more of a candy shop than Nivea (but opinions may differ, I think).

The Tower Run itself, the 3D platformer, is controlled differently than the rest of the game, at least on PC (the same is true for the racing game at Lamborghini). The huge difference is that the controls in the racing game are explicitly shown, what each key does, and not in Nivea Tower Run, which is a pity. It would have been easy to solve and would have absolutely helped to find your way around faster, especially when under time pressure!

Game & Gamification: Mechanics that contradict each other, and points, points, points. Yes, it’s all about one thing: points, high score, and leaderboards.

Sorry, but it would have been a bit better to design the game a bit simpler – like a good Jump ’n‘ Run. Sure, the target group Gen Z likes competition and challenges, especially with friends, but that’s also a matter of the game and genre – right, dear Fortnite 🙂 However, Roblox is played for different reasons than Fortnite, which should be considered in a game and its gamification. Unfortunately, here it’s very much based on extrinsic motivation (do this, then Lala drops, like here, then this comes, reach X, then Y) and the game is partly too complicated in terms of game design and game mechanics and not playable, which leads to simply dropping it.

Besides the hunt for points, as mentioned above, there’s also a leaderboard, and that’s based on time. In the Tower Run, the main game so to speak, there are coins that you can collect – so, what does a player do? Beat the countdown or collect the coins – from a game design aspect, it’s not advisable to mix both if it’s not a 2D platformer. The problem lies in the word DEPTH, then you have to run back and forth if you want to collect the coins and don’t automatically pick them up while running, as in Super Mario or similar.

Unfortunately, the game is quite unbalanced with a lot of frustration potential and is not really fun and enjoyable to play, which does not really do the brand any good.

Brand Fit for Target Audience: I’ll make it short and painless here. Nice idea, cool design. Brand fit for target audience rather meh… What does Nivea want to communicate to Gen Z? I don’t know, a real experience doesn’t come up, I doubt the brand values really found their place and resonance here, and especially a shame I find that everything is based on extrinsic motivation, all on „quickly attainable“ fame for Nivea, to be able to present an externally „successful“ case. Unfortunately, this is an example I would give to my students as a negative example when it comes to marketing games and gamification, and you need those too, from which you can learn a lot without having to make the mistakes yourself.

Therefore, I am very glad and grateful that we now have such a game, from which we all can learn that good marketing can really bring a lot, even though the experience or product behind it is just so-so.

A Brief Personal Note:

Many companies approach us „specialists“ and ask for our opinions – unfortunately, they often end up working with firms that have big names, rather than with people who might not carry big titles but still have a lot of knowledge because they are REAL nerds, not just because they portray themselves or label themselves as such.

I experience this all the time: „Jasmin, can you give us your opinion on this?“ „Jasmin, can we talk about XYZ?“ These are often free consulting requests. I have nothing against such inquiries, but I do have something against exploiting my person or others in this context – hence my aversion to free content for individuals. And this can be called gatekeeping if someone needs to label it for their own peace of mind, be my guest…

Well, it’s up to everyone to decide whether they see me as a nerd, geek, gamer, or show-off (I have my own opinion on that), but I don’t let anything slide about certain people in my network when it comes to topics like Web 3.0, Metaverse, or gaming on platforms, and these people are:

Falk Ebert (he knows everything)
Sandra Kiel (Serious & Marketing Games on Minecraft, Roblox, and Fortnite)
David Bundi (in the legal field, but oh so much more with NFTs and more)
Fatih Inan (simply the greatest in doing)
Niklas Timmermann (also active on Roblox and Co.)

There are many other nerds in other areas in my network, more on that some other time.

They are knowledgeable and aware of the real issues and challenges on various platforms, how to implement advertising measures and marketing on these platforms, and much more.

Quelle:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/roblox-dilemma-jasmin-jaykays-karatas-bpmce/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&utm_campaign=share_via

5. Januar 2024 0 comment

Metaverse

From Gamification to the Metaverse: 7 New Ways to Engage Your Audiences

“Work hard, play hard,” the age-old adage goes. But what if you could do both at the same time? That’s precisely what businesses are doing in 2023. Recent years have forever changed the world of games and the role of game makers. Today, the video game industry is larger than ever before, and gaming talent is in demand across all industries.

From healthcare to hospitality and beyond, companies are leveraging the power of games to engage their audiences. Gamification. Motivational design. Edutainment. You might not have heard these words before, but the odds are you’ve experienced them in action. Each is defined by the act of applying gameplay elements to other activities, such as marketing, ecommerce or education.

Before anyone could ever experience virtual reality, gamification strategies were rising in popularity. Today, gaming expertise has gone from ‘rare niche’ to ‘common need.’ Here are seven ways the most future-focused brands are tapping into gaming to engage their audience:

1. Market within the metaverse.

There is no metaverse without game designers, developers, and engineers. This digital replica of our world is being built by many of the same minds behind our favorite AAA video games.

From avatar character artists to blockchain engineers, the demand for gaming talent has skyrocketed since the start of the race to create the best extended reality (XR) space. And the metaverse is evolving quicker than companies can hire.

Over the next few years, this revolutionary innovation is predicted to change the way our world works, and market leaders, including Apple, Nike and Coca Cola, are investing in it. According to Bloomberg Analysts, the metaverse will be worth nearly $800 billion by 2024’s end.

2. Immerse audiences in experiences.

The metaverse may be under construction, but immersive shopping experiences, virtual real estate tours, and XR training simulations are already here.

Blurring the lines between the physical and the digital, XR technologies aren’t just for metaverse and game development. From try-on experiences to social media filters, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) advancements have endless applications.

Wal-Mart’s Training Academy leverages VR innovations for employee training simulations. The Ford Motor Company’s designers use MR headsets to visually render 3D car models. The Ikea Place App utilizes AR technology to allow users to visualize Ikea furniture in their own homes. And the video game industry’s finest software and hardware experts make it all possible.

3. Make Web3 your secret weapon.

Today’s gamers don’t just play to win; they play to earn. Play-to-earn games allow players to buy, sell, and trade in-game items, using blockchain technologies like crypto-currencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Blockchain is a system for recording information that makes it difficult to change or hack the data. Game studios adopted the technology early, but it’s good for far more than games alone. The system is at the center of the metaverse and the internet of the future, Web3 or Web 3.0.

Companies like Microsoft, IBM and JP Morgan Chase leverage the technology for digital identity verification, secure data sharing, supply chain management and more. Brands everywhere are exploring possibilities, and blockchain engineers are now among the most in-demand gaming talent within and outside of the video game industry.

4. Turn buying into playing.

Rewards programs are nothing new, but gameful thinking has changed the game. By gamifying customer loyalty programs and promotions, businesses turn purchasing into playing.

The details of every game-like deal are different, but often, the more customers buy, the more they win or the better their chance. Yet, purchases aren’t the only way to earn the badges, stars, points, awards and the free products that so many customers enjoy today.

Programs like Starbucks Rewards include bonus challenges and games that take brand engagement to higher heights, and Starbucks is just one example of many. Spin-to-win games, social media challenges, and iconic competitions like McDonald’s Monopoly have paved the way for a new age of advertising and a renewed need for gaming expertise.

5. Make games instead of ads.

Gone are the days of passive advertising and billboards. In 2023, experience is king, interactive marketing is everywhere, and branded games or ‘advergames’ are winning customers over.

Experiential marketing installations like Pepsi’s viral interactive soda machine have boosted brand awareness for years, but gaming experts have taken experiences to another level. ‘Advergaming’ isn’t gamifying existing customer activities; it’s building entirely new games for the sole purpose of brand promotion.

Lego mobile apps and KFC’s virtual Bucket Hunt aren’t just gamification; they’re legit games, and they’re driving real results for top brands. 60% of consumers are more likely to buy from a brand if they’ve enjoyed playing a game it created.

6. Design products people can play.

Customers aren’t the only ones you can engage through gamification. Gameful thinking can make learning fun and transform performing into winning.

Innovative educators are re-evaluating how teaching is done, and the benefits of their models extend beyond the school system and into the workplace. Brands like EY, Salesforce and IBM are putting gameful approaches to onboarding, team training and employee incentives into action.

New apps and platforms emerge each year to help employees expand their skill sets, track their progress and earn rewards for achieving their goals. According to numerous studies, the results are increased employee satisfaction, engagement, and performance.

7. Gamify work to incentivize wins.

Some games aren’t for marketing, education or entertainment. Businesses everywhere are incorporating game mechanics into products and services that you’d never imagine.

Wearable fitness trackers. Financial savings apps. Smart home devices that gamify household tasks. Imagine a dishwasher that turns loading and unloading dishes into a game that awards you points for efficiency. By introducing rewards, levels and challenges, these products turn everyday tasks into engaging experiences.

Brands like FitBit or DishMaster certainly aren’t video game studios, but their products are games in their own respect. And not unlike AAA video games, gameful products are the work of game designers.

Today’s game design is tomorrow’s design.

The meaning of ‘games’ has changed; gameplay is no longer reserved for entertainment alone, and the need for gaming talent has grown far beyond the gaming industry.

As the metaverse evolves, we can expect to see the demand for gaming experts continue to expand. Whether it’s through interactive promotions, immersive experiences, or innovative products, games have an undeniable ability to engage and motivate audiences in new ways.

Today, most businesses have only begun to scratch the surface of the possibilities. Tomorrow, people will no longer need to decide between ‘work’ and ‘play’ because the two will be viewed as the same. Until then, ask yourself: What could game makers do for you?

About Onward Play:

Onward Play connects companies and game studios with the talent to take gaming to the next level, push the limits of web3 technologies, and bring immersive experiences to life.

Quelle:

https://www.thevrara.com/blog2/2023/7/7/from-gamification-to-the-metaverse-7-new-ways-to-engage-your-audiences

2. August 2023 0 comment

Examples

Playmobil launcht Star-Trek-Raumschiff

Zum 55-jährigen Jubiläum der TV-Premiere von „Star Trek“ bringt Playmobil dieses ein Meter große Raumschiff auf den Markt. Und Mr. Spock bekommt als erste Playmobil-Figur (vulkanische) Ohren.

Seit der Premiere am 8. September 1966 blickt das „Star-Trek-Universum“ auf eine überaus erfolgreiche Geschichte zurück und ist nach wie vor ein ungebrochenes, popkulturelles Phänomen, das Fans weltweit begeistert und fasziniert. Als eine der großen deutschen Ikonen wird nun auch Playmobil mit der „70548 Star Trek – U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701“ Teil dieses Universums.

Das ein Meter lange und 499 Euro teure Raumschiff der Constitution-Klasse ist zu Recht der ganze Stolz der Sternenflotte und kommt inklusive der siebenköpfigen Originalbesatzung rund um das Triumvirat Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock und Dr. McCoy. Die eigens für das Playmobil-Raumschiff konzipierte Halterung und die zugehörige Aufhängung sorgen für eine stabile Lage auch bei ausgefallenen Weltraummanövern. Zusätzlich erfreut sich die Weltraumlegende jeder Menge technischer Details und einer authentischen Ausrüstung: Sobald der Dilithiumkern im Maschinenraum eingelegt wird, werden Crewmitglieder beim Betreten der Brücke direkt vom Captain begrüßt und können an der Hauptkonsole verschiedene Licht- und Soundeffekte auswählen, die Szenarien aus der Serie simulieren. Die liebevoll auch „Untertasse“ genannte Brücke lässt sich öffnen und gibt den Blick frei auf die Arbeitsplätze der sieben Crewmitglieder, die originalgetreu angeordnet sind. Neben der Enterpriseselbst sind auch die sieben Crewmitglieder möglichst nah am Original: Mr. Spock darf sich als erste Playmobil-Figur seit 1974 über (vulkanische) Ohren freuen.

Noch mehr Funktionen in der Augmented Reality-AppPLAYMOBIL-AR: Star Trek Enterprise

An der Hauptkonsole der „U.S.S. Enterprise“ kann vor dem Monitor ein Smartphone platziert werden, um in den vollen Genuss der eigens entwickelten Augmented Reality-App „Playmobil AR: Star Trek Enterprise“ zu kommen, die eine echte Star-Trek-Experience weit über das Produkt hinaus ermöglicht. Gekoppelt mit der „Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701“ entfaltet die App ihr volles Potenzial und lässt Kadettinnen und Kadetten der Sternenflottenakademie das Raumschiff in völlig neuem Licht erkunden.

Im Stil eines Point & Click-Adventures können App-User virtuelle Räume auf der Enterprise selbst oder ganz neue, fremde Welten erkunden und mehr über diese erfahren oder die Crewmitglieder bei vielseitigen Quests unterstützen. Interaktive Quiz-Elemente, Mini-Games und Original-Zitate aus der Serie sorgen für echtes Star Trek-Feeling. Weitere Räume und Welten können durch digitale Upgrades freigespielt und-geschaltet werden. Auch alle Licht- und Soundfunktionen des Raumschiffs lassen sich bei Bluetooth-Koppelung auch über die App steuern.

Quelle:

Foto:

Alle Mann an Bord der „70548 Star Trek – U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701“

Foto: Playmobil

https://www.wuv.de/marketing/playmobil_launcht_star_trek_raumschiff

17. September 2021 0 comment

Examples

Von Spieleentwicklern lernen: Produktentwicklung mit Extended Reality

Kann mein Produkt was es können soll – und werden es die Kunden kaufen? Die Antwort auf diese Frage entscheidet über Erfolg oder Misserfolg einer Markteinführung. Das Problem: Vor dem Produktstart kennen wir sie nicht. Die Lösung: Statt sofort teure Prototypen von Autos, Geräten oder Maschinenkomponenten zu bauen, können Unternehmen durch virtuelle Modelle in sehr frühen Entwicklungsphasen feststellen, ob ein neues Produkt in Anmutung und Bedienung für die Kunden attraktiv ist. Forschende des Karlsruher Instituts für Technologie (KIT) entwickeln dafür neue Methoden und Prozesse, die praxisnah in Entwicklung und Lehre angewendet werden.

„In der Automobilindustrie gehen nicht selten zehn Prozent des gesamten Entwicklungsbudgets in die Produktion von Prototypen“, sagt Marc Etri Leiter des XR-Lab am Institut für Produktentwicklung (IPEK) des KIT. „Da können leicht viele Millionen Euro zusammenkommen.“ Diesen Aufwand wollen Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftler am IPEK reduzieren: mit Extended Reality (XR), also Computertechnologien, welche die physische Umgebung um virtuelle Komponenten erweitern (Augmented Reality, AR), oder diese auch gänzlich ersetzen (Virtual Reality, VR).

„XR-Technologien erleichtern es uns in allen Entwicklungsphasen – Produktprofile finden, Konzepte erstellen, präzisieren und realisieren – Produkte an Kundenwünsche und Marktanforderungen anzupassen“, erläutert Etri. „Physisch-virtuelle Prototypen können sowohl Entwicklungszeit und -kosten sparen als auch Fehlern vorbeugen, die oft erst in späteren Phasen der Entwicklung erkannt werden.“ Als Beispiel zeigt er das fotorealistische dreidimensionale Modell eines Rennrades, das sich auf einem Tablet bearbeiten lässt. „Das Design von Laufrädern, Rahmen oder Sattel kann ich mit einem Click verändern.“ Auch Feinheiten wie Farbe und Glanzgrad der Sattelstütze oder Struktur des Sitzbezuges wechseln mit wenigen Klicks auf dem Bildschirm. Die mögliche Detailschärfe des Programms zeigt Etri am Beispiel einer Armbanduhr: Sogar Fotophänomene wie Reflektion auf dem Gehäuseglas ändern sich über verschiedene Designvarianten hinweg und angepasst an die reale Raumbeleuchtung.

„Viele Ingenieurinnen und Ingenieure in der Praxis wissen gar nicht, was mit AR und VR bereits möglich ist“, konstatiert Professor Albert Albers, Leiter des IPEK. „Dabei haben es uns die Spieleentwickler längst vorgemacht“, ergänzt Etri mit Blick auf die populären bildmächtigen Blockbuster-Titel aus dem Gaming-Bereich. Oft scheitere eine zeitgemäße kundennahe Produktentwicklung noch an einem uneinheitlichen Datenmanagement in den beteiligten Abteilungen oder Partnerunternehmen und der daraus resultierenden mangelnden Durchgängigkeit, sagt Albers. „Wir können nicht mit Methoden des 20. Jahrhunderts die Lösungen des 21. Jahrhunderts entwickeln.“ Von den neuen Technologien und Methoden könne das Ingenieurwesen deutlich profitieren – natürlich auch in der aktuellen Pandemiesituation: „Denn sie machen auch ein kontaktfreies standortübergreifendes Arbeiten möglich“, so Albers weiter.

Das Extended Reality Lab in der Lehre am KIT

Deswegen kommt das XR-Lab neben Forschungsprojekten in der Grundlagenforschung und mit Unternehmen auch in der Lehre zum Einsatz: „Wir haben im vergangenen Wintersemester erstmals Virtual Reality-Aufgaben in die Maschinenkonstruktionslehre integriert“, sagt Etri. „Rund 400 Erstsemester aus den Bereichen Maschinenbau, Bio- und Chemieingenieurwesen sowie Mechatronik konnten so schon früh im Studium die Potenziale der XR-Technologien in der Produktentwicklung einschätzen lernen.“ Als digitale Natives falle den Studierenden der Umgang mit diesen Technologien leicht, glaubt Etri. „Das kann sich im künftigen Berufsleben massiv auf die Wahl ihrer präferierten Ingenieurtools auswirken.“

Im XR-Lab wird die VR-Software Cross Connected des Karlsruher Start-ups R3DT, einer Ausgründung aus dem KIT, eingesetzt. (mex)

Quelle:

https://idw-online.de/de/news774754

Foto: Mit wenigen Klicks auf dem Bildschirm können physisch-virtuelle Prototypen von Bauteilen verändert werden. (Foto: Laila Tkotz, KIT)

31. August 2021 0 comment

Knowledge Research

DIGITALLY WEALTHY LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS AND PEDAGOGICALLY SOUND LEARNING EXPERIENCE

A 2019 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report notes that demand for “digitally wealthy learning environments and pedagogically sound learning experiences” is predicted to extend, adding that establishments that have endowed in learning designers and educational designers are higher positioned to make rigorous, high-quality programming that serves the requirements of all learners innovative teaching approaches: computer game within the schoolroom Technology continues to play a progressively vital role in our personal and skilled lives, particularly as we tend to dive deeper into the Fourth technological revolution. Just about each business is immersing itself in technology as well as the education sector. Today’s students or digital natives are raised in an atmosphere wherever the net and technology have been tightly plain-woven into the material of their lives. Despite this, not all education establishments have evolved with the days to embrace digital learning practices that may facilitate students’ learning.

Teaching tomorrow’s workforce within the digital era will be created additional fruitful by sound into the increase of recent technologies, that gift universities with a wealth of opportunities to facilitate students’ learning. New technologies comprehend completely different breeds of technology like computer games (VR), increased reality (AR), gamification, mobile learning applications, and online learning platforms, among others. As universities play an important role in the mold tomorrow’s skills, the applying of technology will facilitate universities keep prior the curve by not solely supporting educators’ teaching and promoting inventive inquiry, however additionally enhancing learning through exposure to advance technology, creating learning additional satisfying and (fascinating) than cases of passive schoolroom learning. Tapping into the wonders of AR & VR Students trying to enter a very university that faucets into the facility of recent technologies might want to contemplate Concordia University. This Canadian public university is snuggled in Montreal, Québec’s largest town.

Quelle:

https://www.industryglobalnews24.com/digitally-wealthy-learning-environments-and-pedagogically-sound-learning-experience

16. Oktober 2019 0 comment

Examples

HoloLAB Champions: Chemie-Training in VR mit HTC Vive

HoloLAB Champtions soll uns spielend Chemie näher bringen – und das im virtuellen Umfeld einer charmanten TV-Spielshow. Welche Features bietet der Virtual Reality-Titel?

Virtual Reality birgt großes Potenzial sowohl für Unterhaltung als auch Bildung. Was wäre denn, wenn man beide Bereiche miteinander verknüpft? Entwickler Schell Games liefert die Antwort mit dem charmanten Bildungsspiel HoloLAB Champions, das sich vornehmlich an Schüler zwischen 14 und 18 Jahren richtet.

Bildung in VR: Chemie-Unterricht macht plötzlich Spaß

In HoloLAB Champions nehmen wir an einer Art Spielshow mit wissenschaftlichem Einschlag teil. Anhand diverser Laborutensilien und Chemikalien dürfen wir in zwei 30 bis 40minütigen Episoden grundlegende Laborvorgänge und Experimente durchspielen und uns so unseren Weg in die „Hall of Brains“ bahnen.

Moderiert wird das virtuelle TV-Spektakel von Earl, dessen Kamera-Sidekick Meyer das ganze auf Band festhält. Wichtige Aspekte der Chemie sind bekanntlich Präzision und die Einhaltung von Sicherheitsvorschriften – entsprechend lassen sich auch in HoloLAB Champions Extrapunkte für sauberes Arbeiten am Reagenzglas erzielen. Jesse Schell, CEO von Schell Games, sagt über sein Spiel:

HoloLAB Champions ist wichtig, weil es Schüler in einer lehrreichen Umgebung in Wissenschaft und Laborsicherheit unterrichtet. Virtual Reality ist immer noch neu und relativ unerschlossen, wir freuen uns also über einen Einsatz im Klassenraum.

Jetzt für Vive-Nutzer und gratis für Schulen verfügbar

HoloLAB Champions ist exklusiv für HTC Vive verfügbar. Wer Interesse hat, sollte einen Blick auf Steam werfen: Dort gibt es das Spiel noch bis zum 17. Juli 2018 für 20 Prozent Rabatt und einen Preis von 6,55 Euro. Noch weniger – genaugenommen gar nichts – müssen Bildungseinrichtungen bezahlen.

Über die offizielle Webseite des Spiels können Lehrer einen kostenfreien Steam-Keyvon HoloLAB Champions anfordern und zudem einen Classroom-Guide mit ausführlichen Instruktionen herunterladen. Das Spiel ist als Singleplayer-Erfahrung konzipiert, kann aber offenbar auch in einer Art Gruppen-Modus für direktes Feedback durch Mitschüler und Lehrer genutzt werden.

HoloLAB Champions ist übrigens nicht das erste Spiel aus dem Hause Schell Games: Im Jahr 2016 hatte der Entwickler bereits mit dem VR-Titel I Expect You To Die auf diversen Plattformen überzeugt. Welche Möglichkeiten dem Bildungsbereich durch VR entstehen, haben wir in einem eigenen Artikel für euch aufbereitet. Dazu gehört natürlich auch die Nutzung von VR und AR in Museen.

Quelle:

HoloLAB Champions: Chemie-Training in VR mit HTC Vive

16. August 2018 0 comment

Examples

Customized Virtual Reality Game für Axa Winterthur

Axa Winterthur Projekt

In diesem Jahr steht bei der Energy Challenge kommunikativ alles im Zeichen der virtuellen Realität und für die Präsenz der Axa Winterthur wurde ein eigens VR-Spiel in-house konzipiert und umgesetzt. Die Mechanik des Spiels sei einfach und spannend zugleich und die Umsetzung bestehe durch Realitätsnähe und Detailverliebtheit.

In einer Stadt der Zukunft erhält der Spieler oder die Spielerin den Auftrag, möglichst viele qualmende Diesel- und Benzin-Fahrzeuge in saubere e-Autos oder e-Busse zu verwandeln. Godzilla-gleich bewegt man sich mit einem Controller ausgerüstet durch die Strassen und kann es kaum erwarten, bis man die nächste Rauchwolke entdeckt und wegzaubern kann. Und auch wenn die Spielzeit auf 2 Minuten begrenzt ist und es darauf ankommt, möglichst viele Fahrzeuge umzuwandeln, sollte man es – weil es ja in der VR ist – auf keinen Fall versäumen, sich zwischendurch umzuschauen. Neben Vogelschwärmen und Flugzeugen, denen man sich quasi Auge in Auge gegenüber sieht, hat man auch einen Ausblick auf den See und das Stadtpanorama. Das Spiel ist mit einem Wettbewerb verknüpft, bei dem man neben einen Renault ZOE für ein Jahr, auch gleich die passende Strom-Tankkarte für die Tanksäulenvon Swisscharge mit dazu gewinnen kann.

Virtual Reality-Box für den Messeeinsatz und Cardboard-VR-Brillen zum selber designen

Die VR-Box besteht aus stabilem Reboard Material und kann durch ein selbsterklärendes Stecksystem leicht auf- und abgebaut werden. Sie ist sowohl im Design der Wände, als auch in der Grösse und den Aufbauvarianten variabel und die Transportverpackung mit Rollen erleichtert das handling zwischen den Einsätzen. Menschen, die mit einer Brille auf dem Kopf und einem Controller in der Hand während eines Spiels seltsam anmutende Bewegungen vollführen, sollte ein gewisses Mass an Privatsphäre ermöglicht werden. Gleichzeitig musste der Aufbau eines VR-Erlebnisses für die Kunden so einfach und attraktiv wie möglich sein.

18. Juni 2017 0 comment