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WhitepaperUniversity of Saskatchewan3 Nov 2026

Effects of Different Game Mechanics on 2D Location Learning in a Serious Game

Serious Games
Game Design
Educational
Australia

Length: 31 pages · ~100 min read
Format: PDF: read online free, download with a free account

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Key insights

6 takeaways

01
Both restricted visual search (Shipwrecked) and sequential recall (Safecracker) mechanics are equally effective for long-term spatial knowledge retention.
02
The choice of game mechanic does not significantly impact the ultimate success of knowledge acquisition, despite differences in immediate gameplay performance.
03
Sequential recall mechanics offer a slight advantage in initial sequence memory tests compared to restricted visual search.
04
Player motivation and the overall user experience are critical factors in how effectively users engage with and learn from a training environment.
05
While mechanics influence immediate gameplay metrics like completion times and error rates, these short-term differences do not translate into long-term memory disparities.
06
Serious game designers should prioritize player engagement and experience metrics, as these factors are as influential as the specific learning mechanics employed.

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Summary

Effects of Different Game Mechanics on 2D Location ASHLEY HERMAN, University of Saskatchewan, Canada MORGAN BEATTIE, University of Saskatchewan, Canada CARL GUTWIN, University of Saskatchewan, Canada CODY PHILLIPS, Queensland University of Technology, Australia JASON T BOWEY, University of Saskatchewan, Canada Fig. 1. Two serious games for learning command locations in a grid interface. Left: Shipwrecked, with a game mechanic based on restricted-view visual search.

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