From Play to Action: Designing Game Endings for Environmental Engagement

Key insights

6 takeaways

01
Game endings should be designed as transitional moments that bridge in-game emotional experiences to real-world environmental action, rather than treating them as final stopping points.See it on page 1
02
The 'Creative Connect' tool provides a framework for tracking longitudinal post-play engagement by allowing players to create accounts that record real-world actions, such as donations or volunteering, linked to their in-game choices.See it on page 17
03
Effective environmental game design requires matching specific emotional states—such as grief, relief, or attachment—with appropriate agency structures to prevent player helplessness and encourage sustained participation.See it on page 6
04
Designers can leverage 'interpretative framing' at the end of a game to help players process complex, 'wicked' environmental problems that lack simple, singular solutions.See it on page 6
05
Case studies like 'Echo of the Abyss' demonstrate that allowing players to choose a specific animal companion during gameplay and receiving follow-up communications from that character can foster curiosity and shift attitudes toward marine ecosystems.See it on page 13
06
The 'Creative Connect' prototype includes an analytics dashboard capable of tracking metrics such as visitor traffic sources, geographic breakdowns, and financial contributions, exemplified by a mock-up showing $381,500 in potential impact.See it on page 13

Summary

From Play to Action: Designing Game Endings for JESSICA CROMP, Key Conservation, USA BEATRICE MAGGIPINTO, Carnegie Mellon University, USA and Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal LAURIE M. HELLER, Carnegie Mellon University, USA VALENTINA NISI, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal NUNO JARDIM NUNES, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal JESSICA HAMMER, Carnegie Mellon University, USA Environmental games can raise awareness and inspire action, yet their influence often fades once players step away.