A study of game design based on sense of loneliness of the elderly

Abstract

Objective: This article proceeds from “sense of loneliness of old people”, and takes “Nanjing Happy Valley Gerocomium” as an example to verify the positive role played by the games in improving the sense of loneliness, thus providing future design of the game for the old with an effective theoretical support and design ideas. Methods: At first, the study sorts out the concepts of RPG games and classifies them by content through document research, then analyzes the current situation and development trends of RPG games, and introduces development and current situation of games for the elderly. Next, the study observes and records daily activities of elderly people in “Nanjing Happy Valley Gerocomium” through document research and selects typical respondents for one-on-one interview to identify the needs of the elderly for game design according to their physiological and psychological characteristics. Conclusion: With research methods including empirical analysis and in-depth interview, this article finds out the core reasons why the elderly have a sense of loneliness, proposes design principles of the games suitable for old people for the this problem, and explores the positive role played by game in improving sense of loneliness, thus providing future design of the game for the old with an effective theoretical support and design ideas.