Poster Information
| Title | Cognitive Load and the Role of Fidelity in Training Games: Lessons Learned from the Bullseye Trainer |
| Presenter(s) | Katelyn Procci, Lucas Blair and Clint Bowers |
| Session | Conference Reception, Game Exhibition, and Poster Session |
| Time | Thursday, October 21, 7:00p-9:00p |
| Location | East Lansing Technology Innovation Center |
| Format | Poster Presentation |
| Description | The Bullseye Trainer is a lightweight flash game whose purpose is to train US Navy recruits how to navigate the interior of a naval ship. Using it as an applied example, we consider the role of physical and cognitive fidelity in training games and explore the tipping point of effective game design between the two types of fidelity based on cognitive load theory. There is a challenge for game designers to provide adequate fidelity required for training, without investing resources that are not required. In this case, we found that translating a 3D training problem to a 2D serious game did not result in performance gains. For visuospatial tasks such as navigation, it may be critical that the cognitive processes are modeled within the game as well as supported with visual representations to serve as meaningful context instead of having players rely on their own self-constructed schemas. |