Coventry meets Italy in a location-based game

We have been piloting a learning game co-design and production approach between teaching staff, students and researchers based on the holistic game-design approach, which has led to the development of a location-based game for learning basic Italian. The game, aptly called ImparAPP is still in the prototype stage, where it is currently being evaluated with our students at Coventry University.

Developed using the TaleBlazer authoring tool, the game allows students to learn Italian and discover Coventry city at the same time. A player will explore the city from point to point (on the map) searching for clues as part of the game quests, absorbing as much of the Italian language as possible through interactions, quizzes, videos and audio cues and use them to tackle the in-game challenges and ultimately progress the story of the game.  Any items collected will be stored in the inventory. The game dynamics are facilitated via engaging narrative and story as the players go through the locations that are triggered as they complete specific tasks/scenes.

If you would like to test the current prototype, please follow the instructions below:

• Download Taleblazer app on:
  • IOS
  • Android
• Open the TaleBlazer app, click menu and insert the game code below for levels 1-4:
  • Game code for Level 1: gtvvwhj
  • Game code for Level 2: gpudhyb
  • Game code for Level 3: gkyyhge
  • Game code for Level 4: gihlmfd
• NOTE: The prototype version will allow game locations to be clicked/tapped on as you progress with the story and tasks (quizzes, puzzles, etc.). If you are in Coventry, you can use the location-based functionality of the game.
• If you are not in Coventry: Once you are in the ImparAPP game, please click on menu -> setting and switch Tap to Visit– pls see below:

Let us know what you think! If you are interested in participating in the study, please let me know.

Existing findings from the preliminary studies will be presented at the upcoming ECGBL conference. Please also see a reflection video from the subject experts (colleagues from the Languages Centre) below.

Big shout out to the team members: Billy Brick, Tiziana Celvi-Wilson, Tyrone Bellamy-Wood, Gaetan Van Leeuwan, Luca Morini and Koula Charitonos. And thanks to the STEP team at the MIT for their support.