Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Contributors
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 Learning Game Disciplines
- Chapter 2 Communication for Stronger Learning Game Design
- Chapter 3 Instructional and Gaming Elements
- Chapter 4 Story for Learning and Gaming
- Chapter 5 Authenticity in Learning Games
- Chapter 6 Design Better Games
- Chapter 7 Bridging the Gap from Design to Implementation
- Chapter 8 Integrating Games into Learning Environments
- Chapter 9 Multidisciplinary Learning Game Development Method
- Chapter 10 Game Review Criteria
- Chapter 11 Game Review
- Chapter 12 Development Methods
- Chapter 13 Game Review
- Chapter 14 Development Methods
- Chapter 15 Game Review
- Chapter 16 Development Methods
- Chapter 17 Game Review
- Chapter 18 Development Methods
- Chapter 19 Game Review
- Chapter 20 Development Methods
- Chapter 21 Game Review
- Chapter 22 Development Methods
- Chapter 23 Game Review
- Chapter 24 Development Methods
- Index
- References
Chapter 20 - Development Methods
DARWARS Ambush!
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 May 2015
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Contributors
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 Learning Game Disciplines
- Chapter 2 Communication for Stronger Learning Game Design
- Chapter 3 Instructional and Gaming Elements
- Chapter 4 Story for Learning and Gaming
- Chapter 5 Authenticity in Learning Games
- Chapter 6 Design Better Games
- Chapter 7 Bridging the Gap from Design to Implementation
- Chapter 8 Integrating Games into Learning Environments
- Chapter 9 Multidisciplinary Learning Game Development Method
- Chapter 10 Game Review Criteria
- Chapter 11 Game Review
- Chapter 12 Development Methods
- Chapter 13 Game Review
- Chapter 14 Development Methods
- Chapter 15 Game Review
- Chapter 16 Development Methods
- Chapter 17 Game Review
- Chapter 18 Development Methods
- Chapter 19 Game Review
- Chapter 20 Development Methods
- Chapter 21 Game Review
- Chapter 22 Development Methods
- Chapter 23 Game Review
- Chapter 24 Development Methods
- Index
- References
Summary
Abstract
We introduce the motivations, history, technical approach, and design choices behind DARWARS Ambush!, a game-based, convoy operations trainer that was heavily used by the U.S. Army and Marines for five years. We discuss a number of the practical deployment concerns we addressed and discuss how we cultivated relationships to build a community of committed users. As one of the first large-scale, successful serious games for learning, DARWARS Ambush! broke new ground and led to many lessons learned on how to best design, develop, and deploy a serious game. We discuss some of our experiences, decisions, and lessons learned, and conclude with some recommendations that may help new efforts attain success as well.
Introduction
In late 2004, DARPA Program Manager Dr. Ralph Chatham asked BBN Technologies, who was already under contract on his DARWARS Training Superiority Program, whether we could quickly – within six months – deploy a training system to help soldiers better respond to convoy ambushes then prevalent in Iraq. At that time, convoy ambushes involving small arms, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), or improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were a leading cause of casualties. The U.S. military had recognized the need for increased training for convoy operations and aggressively pursued a variety of training solutions, including live-fire training exercises, marksmanship trainers, and driver training systems (see Steele, 2004; Tiron, 2004 for examples). Dr. Chatham recognized the need for a squad-level team trainer that would focus on situational awareness, communication, and coordination.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Design and Development of Training GamesPractical Guidelines from a Multidisciplinary Perspective, pp. 464 - 475Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2014