Exploration of the Serious Games Taxonomy

Definition

Games or simulations which are used by companies to train their employees. “Businesses across the spectrum, from automobile manufacturers to financial service providers, are utilizing entertainment software to help educate their employees to better serve their customers and improve their bottom lines,” said Michael D. Gallagher, CEO of the ESA, the U.S. association representing computer and video game publishers.

Usage

“The top uses of video game-based training by major American employers include: compliance training; training for specific job functions; IT training; management training and customer service training. Seventy-seven percent of these training programs tested employee knowledge and 55 percent included interactive role playing.”
The study out of which this quote comes from, also states that around three quarters of the major employers use some form of interactive simulation or game to train their employees.

Example Games

IndustryPlayer

IndustryPlayer is a simulation trying to come very close to real-life business. “[It] simulates all aspects of entrepreneurship: from strategy, investment and finance to the interactions with competitiors, workforce, consumers, banks and our environment.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEyT_ago4ic
www.industryplayer.com
San Rover

The research station on Mars needs a robust network to sore and manage the exploration data being generated. You have been assigned to build a Storage Area Network (SAN) for the station. Command the Rover to tread the hostile terrain of the Red Planet.

San Rover

Research Papers in Domain

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/nooch/2008/06/23/games-as-employee-training-a-new-esa-study/
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_13/b3977062.htm

Developers

Cisco
IBM