Cloud-based Community Games for Learning

Cloud-based Community Games for Learning

When you think about community games, what picture comes to mind? Could it be American football or baseball? That’s usually enough for even a casual viewer to end up shouting at athletes on the pitch, even if they are only on TV. So where does the Cloud fit into this picture?

“Cloud” has been a buzzword in the IT community since the early 2000s. It politely refers to the mass of wires, cables, and data centers across the globe that makes up the backbone of the modern internet and provide on-demand computing resources. The need to expand cloud-based services grows daily and its expanse into gaming today should come as no surprise.

So how does a cloud help you play a game? Don’t you need a gaming PC or laptop or maybe a next-gen console? No, all you need is a broadband internet connection. Cloud gaming a.k.a. gaming on demand a.k.a. gaming-as-a service refers to running a game server remotely on cloud-based architecture and then streaming it to a computer or mobile device.

What’s so great about cloud-based gaming?

Well, starting with the obvious one, users don’t have to invest in expensive hardware to run a game of choice. Instead, users pay a subscription fee to access the cloud-based servers to stream the content to them. This is very similar to how Netflix or Amazon Prime stream HD quality video to a smart TV or mobile device without having to wait to download the content locally.

Streaming eliminates the need for large local storage space on a device as the games are stored on the Cloud. The market is growing rapidly and even the biggest industry players all want a piece of the action. Sony’s PlayStation NOW, Microsoft’s XCloud, and Google’s Stadia, to name a few, have entered the fray.

Learning with cloud-based community games

When it comes to learning, cloud gaming offers a range of possibilities. For example, cloud gaming could offer learners access to detailed 3-D graphics and simulations along with multi-player capabilities for a wide audience. It helps increase learner participation and improves teamwork.

Low processing power units such as smartphones and tablets are needed to display video streams and capture user inputs. Streaming a game to a mobile device eliminates the need for heavy textbooks for students. Users have an opportunity to learn on the go, anytime and anywhere and hence, the physical limitation of a classroom is reduced.

Building your next learning module with cloud-based games

So can users learn a serious topic such as mathematics or science, from playing a game? Yes, if the game allows students to collaborate with their peers, build teams, and promote critical thinking.

The Play- Practice-Perfect (P3) model delivers engagement through playing, greater retention through practice, and efficiency through perfection to ensure measurable results. Evaluate if your learning content would be better presented as a game instead of a web-based training module. If so, the content can either be gamified or turned into a full-fledged serious game that engages learners in adventure or exploration activities.

Bear in mind, that the cost of developing such games is reduced due to development for a single platform and through reusable assets.

In conclusion, cloud-based community games have a serious potential to be as disruptive an influence on education as Netflix has been towards cinemas. With remote teams and workplaces as the new norm, the need for more digital learning platforms has never been greater.

Today’s audience also yearns for newer and bite-sized learning mediums. For example, if a child wanted to learn about the Civil War, the chances that playing the game would have been a lot more engaging and fostered greater retention than a traditional textbook or online lecture. Game on!

MPS has extensive experience in developing custom eLearning solutions that can be gamified and cloud-based. Speak to our experts to know more about how to make your learning content more engaging through cloud-based community games.

We hope you found this article interesting and helpful. Please feel free to share your feedback at marketing@mpsinteractive.com.

– By Darren Patel, Senior Executive – Content at MPS Interactive