GlossaryGuide

Etym. serious (adj.) mid-15c., “expressing earnest purpose or thought” (of persons), from Middle French sérieux “grave, earnest” (14c.), from Late Latin seriosus, from Latin serius “weighty, important, grave.” Gothic…..”honored, esteemed,” literally “weighty.” Meaning “attended with danger” is from 1800.

Etym. games (n.) 1200, from Old English gamen “joy, fun; game, amusement,” “participation, communion.” “contest for success or superiority played according to rules” is first attested c. 1200 (of athletic contests, chess, backgammon).

Definition

• A mental contest played with a computer in accordance with specific rules, which uses entertainment to further training, education, health, public policy, and strategic communication objectives (Zyda, 2005).

• A game designed for a primary purpose other than pure entertainment. Serious games have an explicit and carefully thought out educational purpose, and are not intended to be played primarily for amusement (Michael and Chen, 2006). Serious games are simulations of real-world events, or processes designed for the purpose of solving a problem.

• In the defense context, serious games are used to rehearse, train, or explore military options in a simulation of real-world events or processes (Australian Dept. of Defense); The “serious” adjective is generally appended to refer to products used by industries like defense, education, scientific exploration, health care, emergency management, city planning, engineering, religion, and politics.

See also: SIMULATOR