I remember when the first video games came out. Up until then, the only arcade style game commonly seen was pinball. Them suddenly we were flooded with space battle simulations. They were all very simplistic, but we were learning basic target strategy. To hit the little space ships or flying rocks, you had to hit the button at the right time, judging for distance and movement. Once you had that down, you were pretty sure to get a high score.

Soon thereafter, it became possible to “play doubles.” The arcade game companies saw a lot of kids standing around, waiting for their favorite games to become available while some other kid worked away on the bad guys. By adding a doubles feature, arcades could now double their profits, and the players began to work in teams. Whether it was jousting flying ostriches or shooting more alien bad guys, the concept of teamwork was being employed. Higher scores, more coins, and hopefully a lot more fun.

As the games evolved, whole groups of people could be sent together on quests, each with a different role in vanquishing dragons, finding treasure, and freeing hostages.serious games

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Serious Games-take One For The Team Posted By: Art Gib