This project describes different contexts in which i have helped implement game-based learning. Killer snails is a card game that promotes science learning in informal settings. The game was developed in collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History, and won the 16 bit best tabletop game award in 2016. Crush Station is a game for enhancing players’ updating skills, which is the ability to replace old irrelevant information with new task-relevant information in working memory. The game is available in the Apple and Android app stores.

Killer Snails

Killer Snails is a playful way to understand scientific discoveries in marine biology. I contributed as a game designer and playtesting researcher to publish this award winning card-game. The project was a collaboration between marine biologists at the American Museum of Natural History and game designers. In Killer snails, you are a scientist collecting predatory cone snails that prey on fish, worms and other mollusks. You must build a venom arsenal of potentially life-saving peptide toxins. Race your opponents to create the winning venom cocktail and win the game! Killer Snails was recognized as the best tabletop game at 16 bit award in 2016.

CrushStations

A typical gameplay scenario in CrushStations

CrushStations is an executive functions training game developed by the Consortium for Research of Advanced Technologies in Education. The game was developed by funding by the Institute of Educational Sciences and has been featured at the Educational games expo. I have contributed as the lead game designer, psychological designer, and level designer for this game. There is ongoing research at New York University and at University of California Santa Barbara to study the effectiveness of CrushStations in enhancing players’ updating skills. The game is available in the Apple and Android app stores.