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{{advert|date=July 2016}}
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{{Infobox video game
{{Infobox video game
|title = NoviCraft
|title = NoviCraft
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|publisher = TeamingStream
|publisher = TeamingStream
|designer =
|designer =
|engine = [[Unreal engine|Unreal engine 2]]
|engine = [[Unreal Engine 2]]
|released = 2008
|released = 2008
|genre = [[Serious game]]
|genre = [[Serious game]]
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'''''NoviCraft'''''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metaversejournal.com/2009/02/22/novicraft-virtual-world-team-building/|title=NoviCraft: virtual world team building. |publisher=The Metaverse Journal |date=2009-02-22}}</ref> is a [[serious game]] which supports business customers in social excellence, in learning to construct shared understanding together with different people in changing contexts. It is a total conversion mod for ''[[Unreal Tournament 2004]]'' developed by LudoCraft ltd. and TeamingStream ltd and was commercially released in [[2008]]. The latter has received many awards in several games development competitions, and Former company has been selected among the 25 most interesting IT start-ups in Finland by Tietoviikko.<ref>Tässä ovat Suomen 25 mielenkiintoisinta it-startupia, 6 February 2010; http://www.tietoviikko.fi/taustat/article371633.ece</ref> Despite the young age of the [[serious game]] itself, the history of NoviCraft goes back to the year 2002, when the first generation of the game<ref>{{cite conference |url=http://80.250.162.180/2006/Ivan.Ignatyev/DiGRA/Designing%20Puzzles%20for%20Collaborative%20Gaming%20Experience%20%E2%80%93%20CASE_eScape.pdf |title=Designing Puzzles for Collaborative Gaming Experience – CASE: eScape |first=Tony |last=Manninen |year=2005|conference=DiGRA Conference |conference-url=http://ir.lib.sfu.ca/handle/1892/1580|location=Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada }}</ref> was developed for research purposes at the [[University of Oulu]], [[Finland]] to find out whether computer games could be used for learning
'''''NoviCraft'''''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metaversejournal.com/2009/02/22/novicraft-virtual-world-team-building/|title=NoviCraft: virtual world team building. |publisher=The Metaverse Journal |date=2009-02-22}}</ref> is a 2008 video game developed by LudoCraft Ltd. and published by TeamingStream Ltd.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.is.fi/tyoelama/art-2000001607192.html |title=Vankilapako opettaa johtamista ja yhteispeliä |last=Linnake |first=Tuomas |date=16 December 2008 |website=[[Ilta-Sanomat]] |language=fi |access-date=27 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.kaleva.fi/tiimikoulutus-muuttaa-pelimaailmaan/2216635 |title=Tiimikoulutus muuttaa pelimaailmaan |last=Juntto |first=Anssi |date=9 October 2008 |website=[[Kaleva (newspaper)|Kaleva]] |language=fi |access-date=27 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://muropaketti.com/pelit/peliuutiset/johtamis-ja-tiimikoulutusta-videopelien-keinoin/ |title=Johtamis- ja tiimikoulutusta videopelien keinoin |last=Kauppinen |first=Jukka O. |date=15 December 2008 |website={{ill|Muropaketti|fi}} |publisher={{ill|Otavamedia|fi}} |language=fi |access-date=27 June 2023}}</ref> It is a resource which aims to support business customers in social excellence, and learn to construct shared understanding with different people in changing contexts. It is a total conversion mod for [[virtual engagement]] which was commercially released in 2008. The game's first generation was developed in 2002<ref>{{cite conference |url=http://80.250.162.180/2006/Ivan.Ignatyev/DiGRA/Designing%20Puzzles%20for%20Collaborative%20Gaming%20Experience%20%E2%80%93%20CASE_eScape.pdf |title=Designing Puzzles for Collaborative Gaming Experience – CASE: eScape |first=Tony |last=Manninen |year=2005|conference=DiGRA Conference |conference-url=https://summit.sfu.ca/item/233|location=Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425112055/http://80.250.162.180/2006/Ivan.Ignatyev/DiGRA/Designing%20Puzzles%20for%20Collaborative%20Gaming%20Experience%20%E2%80%93%20CASE_eScape.pdf |archive-date=25 April 2012}}</ref> for research purposes at the [[University of Oulu]], [[Finland]] to test whether computer games could be used for learning.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Bluemink|first1=Johanna |last2=Hämäläinen |first2=Raija |last3=Manninen |first3=Tony |last4=Järvelä |first4=Sanna|year=2009 |title=Group-level analysis on multiplayer game collaboration: how do the individuals shape the group interaction? |journal=Interactive Learning Environments |volume=18 |issue=4 |pages=365–383 |publisher=Informa |doi=10.1080/10494820802602444 |s2cid=23176435 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Bluemink|first1=Johanna |last2=Järvelä |first2=Sanna | year=2011 |title=Elements of collaborative discussion and shared problem-solving in a voice-enhanced multiplayer game |journal=Journal of Interactive Learning Research |volume=22 |issue=1 |pages=23–50 |url=https://www.learntechlib.org/p/31329/}}</ref> In 2009, ''NoviCraft'' was granted the "best [[e-learning]] solution of the year" award during a competition hosted by Finland's E-learning Center (E-oppimiskeskus).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://maxping.org/business/news/novicraft-wins-best-elearning-product-of-2009.aspx |title=NoviCraft is the best eLearning product 2009 - TeamingStream's training game wins award |last=Pirkola |first=Jani |date=24 April 2009 |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429050902/http://maxping.org/business/news/novicraft-wins-best-elearning-product-of-2009.aspx |archive-date=29 April 2009}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Bluemink|first1=Johanna |last2=Hämäläinen |first2=Raija |last3=Manninen |first3=Tony |last4=Järvelä |first4=Sanna|year=2009 |title=Group-level analysis on multiplayer game collaboration: how do the individuals shape the group interaction? |journal=Interactive Learning Environments |volume=18 |issue=4 |pages=365–383 |publisher=Informa |doi=10.1080/10494820802602444 }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Bluemink|first1=Johanna |last2=Järvelä |first2=Sanna | year=2011 |title=Elements of collaborative discussion and shared problem-solving in a voice-enhanced multiplayer game |journal=Journal of Interactive Learning Research |volume=22 |issue=1 |pages=23–50 |url=http://www.editlib.org/p/31329}}</ref>
. In 2009 NoviCraft game was granted with the best [[e-learning]] solution of the year–award in Finland's E-learning Center's competition (E-oppimiskeskus)<ref>[http://maxping.org/business/news/novicraft-wins-best-elearning-product-of-2009.aspx NoviCraft is the best eLearning product 2009 - TeamingStream's training game wins award]</ref>


== Background ==
== Background ==
''NoviCraft'' is a [[Serious game|serious]] 3D [[video game]] using [[Unreal Engine 2]] that tasks teams with solving problems cooperatively through a virtual adventure which takes place on a prison island. The problems presented to the teams are designed to require coordinated activity and discussion in order to succeed. ''NoviCraft'' seeks to improve players' social skills, such as{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}}:
* Communication
* Leading and building of psychological safety, giving and receiving help
* Coordination, and goal orientation
* Think-aloud; Sharing existing knowledge
* Challenges with working in distributed virtual teams, strategy creation, and risk taking
* Planning work and executing tasks according to a plan


The game's design goal is to give the team a [[collaborative learning]] experience of a shared distributed problem-solving situation. The tasks in ''NoviCraft'' have been scripted based on several years of scientific research to promote equal participation from all participants{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}}. The tasks are built to launch key mechanisms of [[collaborative learning]], such as asking questions, helping others, explaining and listening.
NoviCraft is a serious, 3D [[video game]] using [[Unreal Engine]] that puts teams to solve problems together through a virtual adventure placed on a prison island. The problems are designed to require coordinated activity and discussion within teams in order to succeed. NoviCraft seeks to improve players' social skills, such as{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}}:

* Communication
* Leading and building of psychological safety, giving and receiving help
* Coordination, and goal orientation
* Think-aloud; Sharing existing knowledge
* Challenges with working in distributed virtual teams, strategy creation, and risk taking
* Planning your work and executing according to the plan

The game's design goal is to give the team a [[collaborative learning]] experience of a shared distributed problem-solving situation. The tasks in NoviCraft have been scripted based on several years of scientific research to promote every participants‘ equal participation{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}}. The tasks are built to launch the key mechanisms of [[collaborative learning]], such as asking questions, helping others, explaining and listening.


== Game procedure ==
== Game procedure ==

=== Setting and introduction ===
=== Setting and introduction ===
Discussions are held concerning the game's participants, its goals, and the game's procedure and schedule.
Discussions are held concerning the game's participants, goals, and the game's procedure and schedule.


=== Pre-play questionnaire ===
=== Pre-play questionnaire ===
The participants fill in the pre-questionnaire concerning their team skills, current situation and skills or situations that could use improvement.
Participants fill in the pre-questionnaire concerning their team skills, current situation, and skills or situations that could use improvement.


=== Gameplay commences ===
=== Gameplay commences ===
The game is designed for players inexperienced with video games, in a play time of "4-5 hours.". In the game, each participant is represented by a customizable avatar figure and communicate with teammates through headphones and microphones via [[TeamSpeak]]. The participants’ communications and play-performance can be monitored for more detailed analysis and recommendations for further development.
The game is designed for players inexperienced with video games, to be completed in a play time of 4–5 hours. In the game, each participant is represented by a customizable [[Avatar (computing)|avatar]] figure, and may communicate with teammates through headphones and microphones via [[TeamSpeak]]. The participants' communications and play-performance can be monitored for more detailed analysis and recommendations for further development.


Novicraft's premise centers around an escape story, where each team has to flee from a prison island by solving five interactive puzzles together. First, a short frame story appears on the computer screen before the tutorial field. In the story, participants are told that they are prisoners being held on an island, and one of the senior prisoners has heard of possible ways to escape. If they would follow the instructions of the senior prisoner as a team, than they would have a chance to escape.
''NoviCraft''{{'}}s premise centers around an escape story, where each team has to flee from a prison island by solving five interactive puzzles together. First, a short frame story appears on the computer screen before the tutorial field. In the story, participants are told that they are prisoners being held on an island, and one of the senior prisoners knows possible ways to escape. If they follow the instructions of the senior prisoner as a team, then they can have a chance to escape.


The participants are then placed in a [[Tutorial (video games)|tutorial]] area to practice the basic functionalities of their avatars for five minutes. Before the game, the participants are also told to collaborate in order to solve the puzzles in the game. Lastly, each player receives different instructions called “parchments” (virtual papers with some instructions for one of the tasks).
The participants are then placed in a [[Tutorial (video games)|tutorial]] area to practice the basic functionalities of their avatars for five minutes. Before the game, the participants are also told to collaborate in order to solve the puzzles in the game. Lastly, each player receives different instructions called "parchments" (virtual papers with some instructions for one of the tasks).


Once the game fully begins, participants have to accomplish five tasks that appear in a set order. After each task that they manage to achieve, a gate to a new area opens. The structuring of the game-world is designed as linear to minimize confusion and time spent not solving puzzles. The tasks in The Gate specifically are as follows:
Once the game fully begins, participants have to accomplish five tasks that appear in a set order. After each task that they manage to achieve, a gate to a new area opens. The structuring of the game-world is designed as linear to minimize confusion and time spent not solving puzzles. The tasks in The Gate specifically are as follows:
# Each team member has to pass a gas field in a barrel with the help of others' instructions.
# Each team member has to pass a gas field in a barrel with the help of others' instructions.
# Members have to send different colored smoke signals in a certain order.
# Members have to send different colored smoke signals in a certain order.
# Members have to prepare an oil mixture from some ingredients given to them.
# Members have to prepare an oil mixture from ingredients given to them.
# The team is split into two pairs who have to pass through a field while building fences to ward off angry dogs.
# The team is split into two pairs who have to pass through a field while building fences to ward off angry dogs.
# With the burner oil and tools gathered from the earlier tasks, the team has to build a balloon to escape from the prison island.
# With the burner oil and tools gathered from the earlier tasks, the team has to build a balloon to escape from the prison island.

=== Post-play reflection ===
=== Post-play reflection ===
Immediately at the conclusion of the game each participant fills in a brief questionnaire as an individual to reflect on their gameplay experience. Everyone's answers are collected together in-game and compiled into a post-play report.
At the end of the game, each participant fills in a brief questionnaire as an individual to reflect on their gameplay experience. The answers are collected together in-game and compiled into a post-play report. After these personal reflections, the ''NoviCraft'' facilitator guides the team through a shared reflection concerning the game activities. This reflection, carried out through group discussion, is at first based on the game, but expands to everyday, work-related situations towards the end.


About one week after the game's conclusion, participants fill in another feedback-questionnaire concerning ''NoviCraft'' to again reflect on their gameplay experience.
After these personal reflections, the NoviCraft facilitator guides the team through a shared reflection concerning the game activities. This reflection, carried out through group discussion, is at first based on the game, but expands to everyday, work-related situations towards the end.

About one week after the game's conclusion, participants fill in another feedback-questionnaire concerning NoviCraft to again reflect on their gameplay experience.


== References ==
== References ==

{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://www.novicraft.com Novicraft Game website]
* [http://www.novicraft.com NoviCraft Game website]
* [http://www.teamingstream.com/en/company Teamingstream Ltd.]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101228042953/http://www.teamingstream.com/en/company Teamingstream Ltd.]
* [http://www.ludocraft.com Ludocraft Ltd.]
* [https://ludocraft.com/ Ludocraft Ltd.]


[[Category:Unreal Engine games]]
[[Category:Unreal Engine 2 games]]
[[Category:2008 video games]]
[[Category:2008 video games]]
[[Category:Educational video games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer video games]]
[[Category:Puzzle video games]]
[[Category:University of Oulu]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Finland]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Windows-only games]]

Latest revision as of 22:52, 25 July 2024

NoviCraft
Developer(s)LudoCraft
Publisher(s)TeamingStream
EngineUnreal Engine 2
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release2008
Genre(s)Serious game
Mode(s)Multiplayer

NoviCraft[1] is a 2008 video game developed by LudoCraft Ltd. and published by TeamingStream Ltd.[2][3][4] It is a resource which aims to support business customers in social excellence, and learn to construct shared understanding with different people in changing contexts. It is a total conversion mod for virtual engagement which was commercially released in 2008. The game's first generation was developed in 2002[5] for research purposes at the University of Oulu, Finland to test whether computer games could be used for learning.[6][7] In 2009, NoviCraft was granted the "best e-learning solution of the year" award during a competition hosted by Finland's E-learning Center (E-oppimiskeskus).[8]

Background

[edit]

NoviCraft is a serious 3D video game using Unreal Engine 2 that tasks teams with solving problems cooperatively through a virtual adventure which takes place on a prison island. The problems presented to the teams are designed to require coordinated activity and discussion in order to succeed. NoviCraft seeks to improve players' social skills, such as[citation needed]:

  • Communication
  • Leading and building of psychological safety, giving and receiving help
  • Coordination, and goal orientation
  • Think-aloud; Sharing existing knowledge
  • Challenges with working in distributed virtual teams, strategy creation, and risk taking
  • Planning work and executing tasks according to a plan

The game's design goal is to give the team a collaborative learning experience of a shared distributed problem-solving situation. The tasks in NoviCraft have been scripted based on several years of scientific research to promote equal participation from all participants[citation needed]. The tasks are built to launch key mechanisms of collaborative learning, such as asking questions, helping others, explaining and listening.

Game procedure

[edit]

Setting and introduction

[edit]

Discussions are held concerning the game's participants, goals, and the game's procedure and schedule.

Pre-play questionnaire

[edit]

Participants fill in the pre-questionnaire concerning their team skills, current situation, and skills or situations that could use improvement.

Gameplay commences

[edit]

The game is designed for players inexperienced with video games, to be completed in a play time of 4–5 hours. In the game, each participant is represented by a customizable avatar figure, and may communicate with teammates through headphones and microphones via TeamSpeak. The participants' communications and play-performance can be monitored for more detailed analysis and recommendations for further development.

NoviCraft's premise centers around an escape story, where each team has to flee from a prison island by solving five interactive puzzles together. First, a short frame story appears on the computer screen before the tutorial field. In the story, participants are told that they are prisoners being held on an island, and one of the senior prisoners knows possible ways to escape. If they follow the instructions of the senior prisoner as a team, then they can have a chance to escape.

The participants are then placed in a tutorial area to practice the basic functionalities of their avatars for five minutes. Before the game, the participants are also told to collaborate in order to solve the puzzles in the game. Lastly, each player receives different instructions called "parchments" (virtual papers with some instructions for one of the tasks).

Once the game fully begins, participants have to accomplish five tasks that appear in a set order. After each task that they manage to achieve, a gate to a new area opens. The structuring of the game-world is designed as linear to minimize confusion and time spent not solving puzzles. The tasks in The Gate specifically are as follows:

  1. Each team member has to pass a gas field in a barrel with the help of others' instructions.
  2. Members have to send different colored smoke signals in a certain order.
  3. Members have to prepare an oil mixture from ingredients given to them.
  4. The team is split into two pairs who have to pass through a field while building fences to ward off angry dogs.
  5. With the burner oil and tools gathered from the earlier tasks, the team has to build a balloon to escape from the prison island.

Post-play reflection

[edit]

At the end of the game, each participant fills in a brief questionnaire as an individual to reflect on their gameplay experience. The answers are collected together in-game and compiled into a post-play report. After these personal reflections, the NoviCraft facilitator guides the team through a shared reflection concerning the game activities. This reflection, carried out through group discussion, is at first based on the game, but expands to everyday, work-related situations towards the end.

About one week after the game's conclusion, participants fill in another feedback-questionnaire concerning NoviCraft to again reflect on their gameplay experience.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "NoviCraft: virtual world team building". The Metaverse Journal. 22 February 2009.
  2. ^ Linnake, Tuomas (16 December 2008). "Vankilapako opettaa johtamista ja yhteispeliä". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  3. ^ Juntto, Anssi (9 October 2008). "Tiimikoulutus muuttaa pelimaailmaan". Kaleva (in Finnish). Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  4. ^ Kauppinen, Jukka O. (15 December 2008). "Johtamis- ja tiimikoulutusta videopelien keinoin". Muropaketti [fi] (in Finnish). Otavamedia [fi]. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  5. ^ Manninen, Tony (2005). Designing Puzzles for Collaborative Gaming Experience – CASE: eScape (PDF). DiGRA Conference. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 April 2012.
  6. ^ Bluemink, Johanna; Hämäläinen, Raija; Manninen, Tony; Järvelä, Sanna (2009). "Group-level analysis on multiplayer game collaboration: how do the individuals shape the group interaction?". Interactive Learning Environments. 18 (4). Informa: 365–383. doi:10.1080/10494820802602444. S2CID 23176435.
  7. ^ Bluemink, Johanna; Järvelä, Sanna (2011). "Elements of collaborative discussion and shared problem-solving in a voice-enhanced multiplayer game". Journal of Interactive Learning Research. 22 (1): 23–50.
  8. ^ Pirkola, Jani (24 April 2009). "NoviCraft is the best eLearning product 2009 - TeamingStream's training game wins award". Archived from the original on 29 April 2009.
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