One of the major strengths of multiplayer serious games is their ability to promote collaborative learning. Multiplayer serious games provide a platform where players are encouraged to share knowledge, collaborate in decision-making, and join forces to solve complex problems. This group dynamic, inherent to the multiplayer mode, creates a rich environment for learning.
Beyond this collaborative aspect, games also serve as training grounds for interpersonal skills. Players are often placed in challenging situations that require negotiation, persuasion, or conflict management. Each interaction, each decision made within the game can help refine these essential skills for the real world.
Example: “Formation managers,” a serious game developed for Keolis, where each manager plays their own role, and their actions impact their own performance indicators. These actions also affect those of their colleagues and the entire organization. The objective of the experience is to implement the knowledge acquired during a week-long seminar to create a cohesive, united group of managers who prioritize the development of the company and the success of its projects over their personal ambitions.
The game to foster engagement.
Engagement is at the heart of multiplayer serious games. The mere act of interacting with other participants and tackling challenges together creates a sense of belonging and strengthens each person’s involvement in the learning process.
The application of multiplayer serious games has expanded to many fields. Their versatility is undeniable. Whether in the healthcare sector, to train medical teams to collaborate in emergency situations, in education, to make learning math or history more interactive, or in the professional world, to develop leadership skills.
Example 1: “La table de Marie“: an implementation of knowledge management in the restaurant industry for SKEMA Business School.
Example 2: “Down by the Sea“: a serious game in environmental economics developed by Audace for the Institut Montpellier SupAgro and the University of Montpellier.
Objective: To be able to manage a fishery while considering economic criteria for resource management and competition among stakeholders in the industry.
When VR joins multiplayer simulations
Today, it is now possible to develop multiplayer simulations in VR. Learners can train in collaborative missions in VR before experiencing them in the real world. They must learn to respond to positive and negative inputs from their colleagues. They also need to manage risks, implement countermeasures, and more—all in a safe environment!
Example: “Halle 4.0”: Learners are immersed in a virtual environment replicating an active logistics hall. The instructor can also accompany them through the experience. Trainees can thus practice collaborative missions in VR before experiencing them in the real world.
Thus, multiplayer serious games are shaping a new dimension in educational and professional approaches. They combine technology, collaboration, and active learning. As the digital age progresses at a rapid pace, these games are emerging as valuable tools. They are relevant not only for education but also for skill enhancement and preparation for real-world challenges.
