Serious games as software engineering capstone projects

Abstract

This paper describes the author's experiences with teaching an industry-based capstone design course. In this course, students work as members of small teams to complete software development projects. These projects proceed from requirements gathering, to analysis, design, implementation, and delivery of products to real-world clients. In recent years, several of these projects have involved the development of serious games for real-world clients. Serious games are games whose purpose is education in its various forms, rather than entertainment. Serious games and simulations can be good candidates for student projects that provide them with opportunities to manage projects with real-world development constraints and deadlines. A final cumulative written report and oral presentation is required of all teams, along with a formal acceptance letter from their real-world client. The student projects and design activities that result from this course receive frequent praise from local computing professionals and accrediting agency reviewers. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2008.