Tech Stream

Serious Games

11 June 2009

Listen and download: MP3

A serious game is computer or video game that is designed primarily for a purpose other than entertainment.  And the X Media Lab in Sydney is holding Australia’s first ever conference on Serious Games this week. It kicks off tomorrow (Friday) and I had a chance to speak with two of the conference participants:

Noah Falstein, who is often referred to as the ‘father of serious games’.  Noah has worked for Dreamworks Interactive among many other places and is a Board Member of the Serious Games Summit in the United States and President of The Inspiracy.

And Dr Ian Bogost a videogame designer, critic, and researcher. He’s an Associate Professor at Georgia Tech in Atlanta and Founding Partner of Persuasive Games.

I spoke with both men separately about serious games and general trends in interactive entertainment.  They have some truly fascinating things to say. To listen just follow the MP3 at the top of this post.

Good Game on ABC TV are currently running an initiative with Screen Australia to develop a serious game.  More about it here.