Design and Initial Evaluation of an Online Portal-Repository: The Case of Gamers4Nature Project

Abstract

The Gamers4Nature (G4N) project aims to develop and implement a set of strategies that encourage younger audiences (i.e. upper-secondary and undergraduate students) to participate in the creation of mobile games, while promoting knowledge about environmental preservation. This paper introduces one of these strategies, the G4N portal-repository. The portal has a three-fold objective: (1) to serve as the project’s online presence, introducing its goals and objectives; (2) to host the project’s materials and main outcomes; and (3) to act as a repository for the games developed along game design and Game Jam sessions. The development of the project’s online portal was guided by the need to establish a connection with a physical toolkit that was developed in the scope of the project to help users build their games and to reflect the feeling of gaming and the non-linearity of gaming activities. Taking into consideration the importance of developing a user-friendly interface, the portal was developed following a User-Centered Design approach. Although further testing is still needed, the results of the UX Expert Review - the first testing stage - confirmed the portal’s potential of providing a meaningful and relevant experience to its users.

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