Awesome

Serious Games Interactions Model

Table of Contents

• 1. Interactions Model
• 2. Completable
  • 2.1. Predefined types
  • 2.2. Actions
    • 2.2.1. initialized
    • 2.2.2. progressed progress
    • 2.2.3. completed ending
  • 2.3. Requirements and considerations
  • 2.4. Metrics
• 3. Reachable
  • 3.1. Predefined types
  • 3.2. Actions
    • 3.2.1. accessed
    • 3.2.2 skipped
  • 3.3. Requirements and considerations
  • 3.4. Metrics
• 4. Variable
  • 4.1. Predefined types
  • 4.2. Actions
    • 4.2.1. set value
    • 4.2.2. increased/decreased value
  • 4.3. Requirements and considerations
  • 4.4. Metrics
• 5. Alternative
  • 5.1. Predefined types
  • 5.2. Actions
    • 5.2.1. selected
    • 5.2.2. unlocked
  • 5.3. Requirements and considerations
  • 5.4. Metrics
• 6. Device
  • 6.1. Predefined types
  • 6.2. Actions
    • 6.2.1. pressed button/key/position
    • 6.2.2. released button/key/position
  • 6.3. Requirements and considerations
  • 6.4. Metrics
• 7. Target
  • 7.1. Predefined Types
  • 7.2. Actions
    • 7.2.1. interacted
    • 7.2.2. used
    • 7.2.3. touched position
    • 7.2.4. killed
    • 7.2.5. died because
    • 7.2.6. collected
  • 7.3. Requirements and considerations
  • 7.4. Metrics
• 8. Event
  • 8.1. Predefined types
  • 8.2. Actions
    • 8.2.1. performed
  • 8.3. Requirements and considerations
  • 8.4. Metrics
• 9. Compound interaction
  • 9.1. Predefined types
  • 9.2. Actions
    • 9.2.1 began
    • 9.2.2 ended
  • 9.3. Requirements and considerations
  • 9.4. Metrics
• 10. Measure
  • 10.1. Predefined types
  • 10.2. Actions
    • 10.2.1. measured
  • 10.3. Requirements and considerations
  • 10.4. Metrics
• 11. Game Message
  • 11.1. Predefined types
  • 11.2. Actions
    • 11.2.1 threw
  • 11.3. Requirements and considerations
  • 11.4. Metrics
• 12. Summary
• 13. xAPI Mapping
  • 13.1. Objects
  • 13.2. Verbs
  • 13.3 Values
  • 13.4 Example statements
    • 13.4.1 Completable
    • 13.4.1 Reachable
    • 13.4.2. Variables
    • 13.4.3. Alternatives

1. Interactions Model

A serious game is defined by a finite set of game objects. A game object represents an element of the game on which players can perform one or several types of interactions. Some examples of player's interactions are:

• start or complete (interaction) a level (game object)
• increase or decrease (interaction) the number of coins (game object)
• select or unlock (interaction) a power-up (game object)

A gameplay is the flow of interactions that a player performs over these game objects in a sequential order.

Using JsonSchema, a single interaction has the following structure:

{
	"title": "Interaction",
	"type": "object",
	"properties": {
		"player": {
			"type": "object",
			"description": "The player that generated the interaction"
		},
		"action": {
			"type": "string",
			"description": "The type of interaction performed by the player"
		},
		"object": {
			"type": "string",
			"description": "Objective of the player's action"
		},
		"value": {
			"type": "object",
			"description": "Parameters of the action"
		},
		"timestamp": {
			"type": "string",
			"description": "Date and time at which the interaction occurred, formatted according to ISO 8601 including its time zone."
		}
	},
	"required": ["player", "action", "object", "timestamp"]
}

The rest of the document defines the set of game objects and interactions considered by the RAGE Serious Games Interactions Model.

2. Completable

A completable is something a player can start, progress and complete in a game, maybe several times.

2.1. Predefined types

Types included in the xAPI Profile

Types under consideration

2.2. Actions

Actions included in the xAPI Profile

2.2.1. initialized

The player initialized the completable.

	John Doe initialized "Levels/World 1-1" at "May 24, 2016 15:03:17 UTC"

2.2.2. progressed progress

The player made progress in a completable.

• value is a mandatory float indicating the absolute progress in the completion. Its value must be between [0, 1] .

	John Doe progressed 0.5 in "Levels/World 1-1" at "May 24, 2016 15:05:45 UTC"

2.2.3. completed ending

The player finished a completable.

• value is an optional identifier indicating the ending of the completion, in the case a completable can be finished in several ways. Each identifier should represent and independent ending.

	// John Doe completed the game accessing to a good ending
	John Doe completed with "Princess Rescued" in "Super Mario Bros." at "Jan 20, 2016 12:35:13 UTC"

	// John Doe game overed in the game
	John Doe completed with "Game Over" in "Super Mario Bros." at "Jan 20, 2016 12:35:13 UTC"

2.3. Requirements and considerations

• A completed action MUST be preceded by a started action of the same completable object.
• A completed action MUST be emitted before emitting a started action of an already started completable object.
• A progressed action with value 0 is not equivalent to a started action.
• A progressed action with value 1 is not equivalent to a completed action.

2.4. Metrics

• Is completed / Times completed
• Progress evolution
• Endings count
• Times to complete
• Mean, max and min time to complete

3. Reachable

A reachable is a virtual space inside the game world a player can access or skip once or multiple times.

3.1. Predefined types

Types included in the xAPI Profile

3.2. Actions

Actions included in the xAPI Profile

3.2.1. accessed

The player entered in the reachable.

	John Doe accessed "Screens/Sound Menu" at "Jan 10, 2016 7:47:47 UTC"

3.2.2 skipped

The player skipped a reachable deliberately.

	John Doe skipped "Cutscenes/Intro video" at "Sep 3, 2016 9:17:37 UTC"

3.3. Requirements and considerations

• A skipped action MUST be preceded by a accessed action of the same reachable.

3.4. Metrics

• Times accessed
• Time spent in it
• Times skipped
• Time to be skipped
• Access order (navigation tree)

4. Variable

A variable is a meaningful value inside the game world a player can set, increase or decrease.

4.1. Predefined types

Types included in the xAPI Profile

Types under consideration

4.2. Actions

Actions under consideration

4.2.1. set value

The player set a value in a variable.

• value is a string, a boolean, a number or an object, with the current value for the variable.

	// John Doe turned off music
	John Doe set false "Preferences/Music" at "May 7, 2016 11:22:57 UTC"

4.2.2. increased/decreased value

The player increased/decreased a value in a variable.

• value is a number with the increase/decrease for the variable.

	// John Doe took 2 coins
	John Doe increased 2 "Currencies/Coins" at "May 7, 2016 11:22:57 UTC"
	// John Doe lost a life
	John Doe decreased 1 "Attempts/Lives" at "May 7, 2016 11:24:17 UTC"

4.3. Requirements and considerations

4.4. Metrics

5. Alternative

An alternative is a decision the player faces in the game, where she has to choose only one option among several. Options in alternatives can be unlocked.

5.1. Predefined types

Types included in the xAPI Profile

Types under consideration

5.2. Actions

Actions included in the xAPI Profile

5.2.1. selected

The player selected an option in an alternative.

• value is the identifier of the selected option.

	John Doe selected "Tutorial Mode" "Menu/Start" at "Dec 31, 2016 13:05:12 UTC"	

5.2.2. unlocked

The player unlocked an unavailable option in an alternative.

• value is the identifier of the unlocked option.

	John Doe unlocked "Combat Mode" "Menues/Start" at "Sep 13, 2016 14:13:12 UTC"

5.3. Requirements and considerations

5.4. Metrics

6. Device

A device is a piece of hardware the player interacts with to control the outputs of the game.

6.1. Predefined types

Types included in the xAPI Profile

Types under consideration

6.2. Actions

Actions included in the xAPI Profile

6.2.1. pressed button/key/position

The player pressed a button, a key or a position in a device.

• value is the value of the button, key or position pressed by the player. If the value is a position, it should be in the game coordinates system, not in the screen coordinates system.

	John Doe pressed (50, 247) "Mouse Button 1"  at "Jan 21, 2016 19:43:22 UTC"
	John Doe pressed "Button_X" "Controller"  at "Jan 21, 2016 19:43:42 UTC"

6.2.2. released button/key/position

The player released a button, a key or a position in a device.

• value of the button, key or position released by the player. If the value is a position, it should be in the game coordinates system, not in the screen coordinates system.

	John Doe released (59, 267) "Mouse Button 1" at "Jan 21, 2016 19:43:13 UTC"
	John Doe released "Button_X" "Controller" at "Jan 21, 2016 19:43:43 UTC"

6.3. Requirements and considerations

• A pressed action must be eventually followed by a released action over the same device. A pressed cannot be emitted if there is a pending released action.

6.4. Metrics

7. Target

A target is a game element the player can interact with.

7.1. Predefined Types

Types included in the xAPI Profile

Types under consideration

7.2. Actions

Actions included in the xAPI Profile

7.2.1. interacted

The player interacted with a target inside the game world.

	John Doe interacted "NPC/Villager" at "May 1, 2016 19:43:48 UTC"

7.2.2. used

The player used a a target inside the game world.

	John Doe used "Item/HealthPotion" at "May 24, 2016 19:43:31 UTC"

Actions under consideration

7.2.3. touched position

The player touched (or clicked) a target inside the game world (e.g., an UI control).

• value is the optional position of the player touch/click. It should be in the game coordinates system.

	John Doe touched "UI/StartButton" at "May 15, 2016 19:43:31 UTC"

7.2.4. killed

The player eliminated a target inside the game world.

	John Doe killed "Enemy/Goomba" at "May 24, 2016 19:43:29 UTC"

7.2.5. died because

The player lost a life/attempt.

	John Doe died because "Enemy/Goomba" at "May 24, 2016 19:43:18 UTC"

7.2.6. collected

The player collected a target inside the game world.

	John Doe collected "Weapon/LightSword" at "May 24, 2016 19:43:51 UTC"

7.3. Requirements and considerations

7.4. Metrics

8. Event

This type of action is intended to cover those custom interactions not covered in the rest of the model.

8.1. Predefined types

None.

8.2. Actions

Actions under consideration

8.2.1. performed

The player executed the custom interaction.

	John Doe performed "Event/Jump"	

8.3. Requirements and considerations

8.4. Metrics

9. Compound interaction

To express a complex interaction, formed by simple interactions.

9.1. Predefined types

None.

9.2. Actions

Actions under consideration

9.2.1 began

The complex interaction began. All subsequent interactions will belong to the compound interaction, until an ended action is emitted.

9.2.2 ended

Marks the end of tye complex interaction.

	// John Doe bought a health potion and recovered health
	John Doe began "Buy health potion" at "May 24, 2016 19:43:11 UTC"
	John Doe decreased 20 "Currency/Coins" at "May 24, 2016 19:43:11 UTC"
	John Doe collected "Items/Health Potion" at "May 24, 2016 19:43:11 UTC"
	John Doe used "Items/Health Potion" at "May 24, 2016 19:43:11 UTC"
	John Doe increased 5 "Health/HP" at "May 24, 2016 19:43:11 UTC"
	John Doe ended "Buy health potion" at "May 24, 2016 19:43:11 UTC"

9.3. Requirements and considerations

• All the interactions are emitted at the same exact timestamp
• A compound interaction can have sub-compound interaction

9.4. Metrics

10. Measure

Used by the game engine to log debug and performance data.

10.1. Predefined types

Types under consideration

10.2. Actions

Actions under consideration

10.2.1. measured

The game engine measured a value for a given performance metric.

	John Doe measured "LoadTime/Scene1" 0.2 at "May 24, 2016 19:43:37 UTC"

10.3. Requirements and considerations

10.4. Metrics

11. Game Message

Used by the game engine to log some error in the game.

11.1. Predefined types

Types under consideration

11.2. Actions

Actions under consideration

11.2.1 threw

	John Doe threw "Error/Exception" "ArrayIndexOutBounds es.eucm.countrix.Countrix.java:90"

11.3. Requirements and considerations

11.4. Metrics

12. Summary

Actions included in the xAPI profile

Actions under consideration

13. xAPI Mapping

13.1. Objects

Objects included in the xAPI Profile

Objects under consideration

13.2. Verbs

Verbs included in the xAPI Profile

Verbs under consideration

13.3 Values

Values included in the xAPI Profile

Values under consideration

13.4 Example statements

13.4.1 Completable

initialized

	John Doe initialized "Levels/World 1-1" at "May 24, 2016 15:03:47 UTC"

{
	"actor": { "..." },
	"verb": {
		"id": "http://adlnet.gov/expapi/verbs/initialized"
	},
	"object": {
		"id": "http://example.com/games/SuperMarioBros/Levels/World1-1",
		"definition": {
			"type": "http://curatr3.com/define/type/level"
		}
	},
	"timestamp": "2016-05-24T15:03:47Z"	
}

progressed

	John Doe progressed 0.5 in "Levels/World 1-1" at "May 24, 2016 15:05:49 UTC"

{
	"actor": { "..." },
	"verb": {
		"id": "http://adlnet.gov/expapi/verbs/progressed"
	},
	"object": {
		"id": "http://example.com/games/SuperMarioBros/Levels/World1-1",
		"definition": {
			"type": "http://curatr3.com/define/type/level"
		}
	},
	"result": {
		"extensions": {
			"https://rage.e-ucm.es/xapi/ext/progress": 0.5
		}
	},
	"timestamp": "2016-05-24T15:05:49Z"	
}

completed

	John Doe completed with "Game Over" in "Super Mario Bros." at "Jan 20, 2016 12:35:13 UTC"

{
	"actor": { "..." },
	"verb": {
		"id": "http://adlnet.gov/expapi/verbs/completed"
	},
	"object": {
		"id": "http://example.com/games/SuperMarioBros/Levels/World1-1",
		"definition": {
			"type": "http://curatr3.com/define/type/level"
		}
	},
	"result": {
		"extensions": {
			"https://rage.e-ucm.es/xapi/ext/value": "Game Over"
		}
	},
	"timestamp": "2016-01-20T12:35:13Z"
}

13.4.1 Reachable

accessed

	John Doe accessed "Screens/Sound Menu" at "Jan 10, 2016 7:47:47 UTC"

{
	"actor": { "..." },
	"verb": {
		"id": "http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/access"
	},
	"object": {
		"id": "http://example.com/games/SuperMarioBros/Screens/SoundMenu",
		"definition": {
			"type": "https://rage.e-ucm.es/xapi/seriousgames/activities/Screen"
		}
	},
	"timestamp": "2016-01-10T07:47:47Z"
}

skipped

	John Doe skipped "Cutscenes/Intro video" at "Sep 3, 2016 9:17:37 UTC"

{
	"actor": { "..." },
	"verb": {
		"id": "http://id.tincanapi.com/verb/skipped"
	},
	"object": {
		"id": "http://example.com/games/SuperMarioBros/Cutscenes/IntroVideo",
		"definition": {
			"type": "https://rage.e-ucm.es/xapi/seriousgames/activities/Cutscene"
		}
	},
	"timestamp": "2016-09-03T09:17:37Z"
}

13.4.2. Variables

set

	John Doe set false "Preferences/Music" at "May 7, 2016 11:22:57 UTC"

{
	"actor": { "..." },
	"verb": {
		"id": "https://rage.e-ucm.es/xapi/seriousgames/verbs/set"
	},
	"object": {
		"id": "http://example.com/games/SuperMarioBros/Preferences/Music",
		"definition": {
			"type": "https://rage.e-ucm.es/xapi/seriousgames/activities/Preference"
		}
	},
	"result": {
		"extensions": {
			"https://rage.e-ucm.es/xapi/ext/value": false
		}
	},
	"timestamp": "2016-05-07T11:22:57Z"
}

decreased

	John Doe decreased 1 "Attempts/Lives" at "May 7, 2016 11:24:47 UTC"

{
	"actor": { "..." },
	"verb": {
		"id": "https://rage.e-ucm.es/xapi/seriousgames/verbs/decreased"
	},
	"object": {
		"id": "http://example.com/games/SuperMarioBros/Attempts/Lives",
		"definition": {
			"type": "https://rage.e-ucm.es/xapi/seriousgames/activities/Attempt"
		}
	},
	"result": {
		"extensions": {
			"https://rage.e-ucm.es/xapi/ext/value": 1
		}
	},
	"timestamp": "2016-05-07T11:24:47Z"
}

13.4.3. Alternatives

selected

	John Doe selected "Tutorial Mode" "Menu/Start" at "Dec 31, 2016 13:05:12 UTC"	

{
	"actor": { "..." },
	"verb": {
		"id": "http://adlnet.gov/expapi/verbs/preferred"
	},
	"object": {
		"id": "http://example.com/games/SuperMarioBros/Alternatives/Menu_Start",
		"definition": {
			"type": "https://rage.e-ucm.es/xapi/seriousgames/activities/Alternative"
		}
	},
	"result": {
		"response": "Tutorial Mode"
	},
	"timestamp": "2016-12-31T13:05:12Z"
}