Key Conservation

From Play to Action: Designing Game Endings for Environmental Engagement

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…

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.