Abstract

Serious games take the compelling and creative aspects of traditional computer games and apply them for non-entertainment purposes. The development of serious online games could contribute to many web-located community developments. This paper explores the potential for serious online games for inclusion in web-based community developments and outlines a participatory design project which utilises online gaming technologies. We conclude that serious online games are a useful component in such developments, but that their design and development should take into account their potential users and that as people become more experienced and used to interacting with gaming technologies, the expectations for these types of interaction will rise.