Expansion Set For Intermediate Measures of Performance – Achievement Systems In Simulation Games Development.


Page 249 - Developments in Business Simulation and Experiential Learning, Volume 43, 2016 

 

ABSTRACT 

Recent attention around using game design elements and 
techniques in non-game contexts which is recognized as 
gamification (Deterding 2011) has got influence on the games 
medium as well. That includes serious games and its 
subcategory – simulation games. As gamifying simulation 
games Author suggest implementation of game mechanism 
called ‘achievement’.  
Achievements in video games are rewards or recognition 
earned by players for in-game accomplishments (Blair 2011). 
In 2005 Microsoft introduced new feature of Gamerscore that 
was tracking players actions and rewarding them with external 
point system connected with Xbox 360 players profile. To earn 
Gamerscore player needs to pass certain conditions that are set 
by game designers.By combining conditions, value with specific 
name, designers are creating achievements that are now 
available in majority of video games (including smart-devices 
and social networks games). Whole communities started to 
gather together on online forums just to exchange ways of 
completing every achievement in particular game and discuss 
solutions for most demanding tasks. Addictive characteristics of 
virtual rewards as achievements were incorporated also by 
software developers. To give an example – Duolingo, mobile 
and web application created for teaching various languages is 
visualising users’ skillset of certain language by achievements. 
Achievements are treated as extrinsic motivators to fulfill 
conditions, but system of achievements can be perceived as 
intrinsically motivating – need of getting the whole collection of 
virtual prizes or just more than other players is strong for all of 
us.  
Popularity of that mechanism among players and the quite easy 
way of creating such rewards is faintly appearing in simulation 
games. Author’s first contact with achievements in that genre 
was back in fall 2014 when achievements were introduced into 

Marketplace Live simulation (ILS 2014). Set of 34 achievements 
was introduced to the simulation (most of each were common to 
all variations of Marketplace, but some were specific for certain 
scenarios). Students’ reactions to that additional rewards were 
visible during classes which resulted in idea to deepen the 
understaing of the use of achievements in simulation games.  
As a theoretical basis for the research Author will use one of 
the ways of dealing with complexity in simulation games design 
called intermediate measures of performance (Cannon 1995). 
In case of Marketplace there is internal Balanced Scorecard for 
measurement of players performance. Its limitation is focus 
only on hard results of the player (or team), which means that 
results of calculations based only on mathematical model of the 
game. Students from so-called Generation Y and younger are 
not used to this kind of feedback and they feel lost and 
uninformed about their situation on the market within the game. 
Introducing virtual achievement as additional measure of 
performance can be the right direction to solve that problem.  
Author already performed a short survey with the students 
about recognition of achievements system and their satisfaction 
spirit of feedback distribution within Marketplace Live. The 
outcome is that they like this form of being informed about their 
out of ordinary accomplishments. Although they have too little 
information about structure of achievement system. What is 
more – not all of the decission areas are covered with 
achievements, so it is hard to strengthen every player 
motivation. Second part of the research is under development. 
Author will present his own achievement system suited for 
Marketplace Live simulation. It will be made with use of survey 
feedback and construction of small prototypes of achievements 
around Marketplace decision areas. Later on, with cooperation 
with ILS that system will be tested in-class environment for 
better adjustment of achievement conditions and feedback needs 
of students. Third part of research assumes full implementation 
of upgraded achievement system and further tests on 
international players of that simulation. 

Expansion Set For Intermediate Measures of Performance – 
Achievement Systems In Simulation Games Development. 

 
Michal Jakubowski 

Kozminski University, Warsaw, Poland 
mjakubowski@kozminski.edu.pl 

Blair, L. (2011) THE USE OF VIDEO GAME 
ACHIEVEMENTS TO ENHANCE PLAYER 
PERFORMANCE, SELF-EFFICACY, AND MOTIVATION. 
Dissertation, University of Central Florida (retrieved from: 
http://etd.fcla.edu/CF/CFE0004471/Dissertation_final.pdf 
2015-09-12) 

Cannon, H. (1995). Dealing with the complexity paradox in 
business simulation games. Developments in Business 
Simulations and Experiential Exercises, 22, 96-102. 

Deterding S., Khaled R., Nacke LE, Dixon D., (2011) 
Gamification: Toward a definition CHI 2011 Gamification 
Workshop Proceedings, 12-15 

Interactive Learning Solutions (2015) Marketplace Live (http://
www.marketplace-simulation.com/) 

Duolingo (2015) (www.duolingo.com) 

REFERENCES 

mailto:mjakubowski@kozminski.edu.pl
http://etd.fcla.edu/CF/CFE0004471/Dissertation_final.pdf
http://www.marketplace-simulation.com/
http://www.marketplace-simulation.com/
http://www.duolingo.com