Game nights with friends are a great opportunity to spend quality time together, challenge each other and test strategic skills. However, games have greater potential. They can impart knowledge, highlight problems and lead to solutions. In March, Master's students from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and other faculties at Otto von Guericke University developed.

The prototypes are based on problem descriptions from science and business. So-called "serious games" are developed as part of the new "Applied Game Design" course. These serve as tools for analysing and designing complex socio-technical systems and pursue realistic goals. "For example, our students developed a serious game that creates awareness for the successful use of digital technologies in the smart circular economy," explains lecturer Dr Maria Freese from the Chair of Production Systems and Automation.

Games are used in science and business

This resulted in the game "Loop Hunt", in which the players have the task of following a product along its value chain and familiarising themselves with the use of digital technologies at various points. "Human-centred innovation methods such as serious games are also playing an increasingly important role in industry. This was also demonstrated by the huge participation of industry partners in the course," she continues.

Corporate partners are given the opportunity to provide students with current problems from their practice as a basis for the development of playable prototypes. The prototypes developed are then to be used in science and industry after the course. The students spend several days working intensively on a topic and the associated problem and then present the games they have developed.

Repeat in the winter semester

"The course was a complete success for everyone involved. The students developed playable prototypes within a short space of time. These will be used in the future both in science and by our industrial partners. It's a win-win situation. The course will be offered again next winter semester and other interested companies are of course always welcome," summarises Dr Maria Freese. Students who are interested in the next course during the lecture-free period in the coming winter semester should have a good command of English and be creative. Participants will receive 5 credit points for the block seminar, for which there are only a limited number of places. As usual, registration takes place via LSF.