In response to continual increases in the volume of manuscript submissions it receives, the International Journal of Game-Based Learning (IJGBL) is seeking expressions of interest from qualified individuals to join its editorial board.

As you may already know, the forthcoming  6th Irish Conference on Game-Based Learning (iGBL2016) will be be hosted by Trinity College Dublin on 1st and 2nd September 2016, and we are delighted to let you know that bookings are now open.

This year, 100 authors (e.g., teachers, researchers, and students) will be presenting their work and developments on games and learning through 49 presentations (e.g., workshops, game demos, research and practitioner’s presentations). We will also have a keynote from Derek Robertson.

This promises to be a very interesting programme, and you can now register your place before 29th July 2016 and benefit from our discounted early bird booking rates:

• Students: €30 (€40 after 29th July)
• Regular: €60 (€80 after 29th July)

So, if you are enthusiastic about games and would like to share your experience or meet like-minded people, then iGBL will be a great event to attend, and you can book your place now.

We look forward to seeing you at iGBL2016.

The iGBL2016 committee

For more information on iGBL2016, please email us at: igblconference@gmail.com or visit the official website (http://igbl-conference.com).

This conference is sponsored by Learnovate and Develop-Project.

This new book series takes the reader from no knowledge of Unity to reasonable levels of proficiency. It consists of three books: Foundations, Beginner, and Advanced.

It includes step-by-step instructions that should be ready helpful to those new to Unity or to Game Development.

The books are sold for an affordable price of 5$ each, and are available in several formats, including: Kindle, pdf, pr paperback.

You can find more information on these books here.

Important Dates

• 8th March 2016: Abstract submission deadline.
• 8th April 2016: Notification of acceptance.
• 8th April 2016: Successful research-based presentations are invited to submit a paper to be included in the conference proceedings.
• 19th April 2016: Early-bird registration deadline.
• 3rd May 2016: Registration deadline.
• 31st May 2016: Final submission of presentations and research papers.

We look forward to receiving your abstracts.
The iGBL2016 committee.

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For more information on iGBL2016, please email us at: igblconference@gmail.com or visit the official website (http://igbl-conference.com).

A new book is available on Unity and its is called Unity 5 From Zero to Proficiency (Beginner).

Content and structure of this book

In this book, the second book in the series, you will become comfortable with scripting in Unity by creating a simple survival game.
The book includes:

• A list of the learning objectives at the start of each chapter.
• Step-by-step activities.
• Opportunities to engage in deeper learning and problem-solving skills through challenges at the end of each chapter.
• Quizzes to test your knowledge.
• Full project and code solutions (in JavaScript and C#) for each chapter.
• Cheat-sheets (i.e., shortcuts, best practice, etc.) that you can download.

The content of each chapter is as follows:

• Chapter 1 gives an introduction to JavaScript and to core principles that will help you to get started with coding. You will learn key programming concepts such as variables, variable types, or functions.

• Chapter 2 helps you to code your first script. You will learn how to code following best coding practices, debug your code, and also avoid common errors.

• Chapter 3 gets you to improve your scripting skills, enhance your game and add more interaction. You will learn to implement a scoring system, to detect collisions, and to load new levels.

• Chapter 4 explains how you can create and update a user interface for your game (e.g., displaying images and messages onscreen) using scripting.

• Chapter 5 explains how you can polish-up your game. You will add a splash-screen, a simple inventory system, sound effects, as well as a mini-map.

• Chapter 6 explains how to add Non-Player Characters (NPCs) with Artificial Intelligence (AI). You will configure each NPC and get them to either follow the player or walk along a simple path of your choice, and also detect collision with them.

• Chapter 7 provides answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) (e.g., scripting, audio, AI, or user interface).

New Book “Unity from Zero to Proficiency (Intermediate)” is available on Amazon.
In this book, entitled From Zero to Proficiency (Foundations), which is the first book in the series (i.e., Foundations, Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced), the readers will become comfortable with Unity’s interface and its core features, by creating a project (with no coding involved) that includes both an indoor and an outdoor environment.
The book includes:

• A list of the learning objectives at the start of each chapter.
• Step-by-step activities.
• Opportunities to engage in deeper learning and problem-solving skills through the challenges offered at the end of each chapter.
• Quizzes to test your knowledge.

The content of each chapter is as follows:

• Chapter 1 provides general information on game engines and explains why you should use such software, and how, by using Unity more specifically, you can create games seamlessly.

• Chapter 2 takes you through the very first steps of installing Unity and becoming familiar with the interface. It will also show you the different shortcuts necessary to navigate through scenes and projects in Unity.

• Chapter 3 gets you to create and export your first
  scene by combining built-in objects. You will learn how to manage objects, apply textures and colors, and transform objects to create a simple scene.

• Chapter 4 explains how you can create an indoor scene (i.e., a maze) with built-in shapes. You will also work with and manage lights in your scene to set the atmosphere and navigate through the scene with a First-Person Controller.

• Chapter 5 explains how to create an island with sandy beaches and palm trees using Unity’s built-in assets. You will also drive a car and pilot a plane.

• Chapter 6 provides answers to frequently asked questions.

• Chapter 7 summarizes the topics covered in this book and also provides useful information if you would like to progress further with this book series

You can obtain more information on this book on the official website.

IGBL 2015 is held in IADT this year, and has offered, so far, a great variety or presentations including a keynote from Stephen Howell (Academic Engagement Officer, Microsoft Ireland) on the Spark project, and a keynote from Dr Mikael Jakobsson (Research Coordinator, MIT Game Lab). The programme is available here:https://igblconference.wordpress.com/programme2015/

The Irish Symposium on Game-Based Learning, now in its 4th year, provides a forum for teachers, lecturers, students and researchers to disseminate research, exchange ideas and best practice on the use of games and gamification for enhancing teaching and learning. The purpose of this symposium is to:

– report on the use of GBL in primary, secondary and third-level education
– provide evidence of the effectiveness of GBL to motivate and learn
– identify how GBL can be included and facilitated in instructional settings

This symposium provides a unique opportunity to share and gather insights on game-based learning and gamification from different perspectives including education, sociology, educational psychology, Human Computer Interaction (HCI), artificial intelligence, game design, game development and instructional design.

Submissions are welcome on any topic related to the use of games and gamification to enhance teaching and learning.

This year the Cork Institute of Technology, in partnership with SEGAN (Serious Games Network), will host iGBL2014 on Friday 6th June 2014 and will offer a dynamic programme with plenty of opportunities for networking and discussion. The programme will include presentations, workshops and pecha kucha sessions as well as interactive poster presentations.

All accepted abstracts will be included in the conference proceedings, with the possibility of publication in the International Journal of Game-Based Learning (IJGBL).

All submission types require that authors submit a 300-500 word abstract to be received by 4th April 2014.

Submissions must be made via the online form: . Please ensure that all required fields are completed.

Abstracts must include the proposed title for the submission, the full names and affiliations of all authors, and the contact details of at least one author. In the case of multiple authors, please specify who will be the presenting author at the symposium.

All submissions will go through a double-blind review process. This review process will take approximately 3 weeks and final notifications will be sent by 28th April 2014. After the presenting author(s) have booked their place at the symposium, the presentation will be fully accepted for inclusion in the programme and book of abstracts.

For more information on this conference, you can contact the organizing committee using the following online form:
http://igblconference.wordpress.com/call-for-papers/

You can also contact the conference hosts directly:
– Roisin Garvey: Roisin.Garvey@cit.ie
– Darragh Coakley: Darragh.Coakley@cit.ie

We hope to see you at iGBL2014!

Best Wishes

Patrick

on behalf of the organizing committee

International Journal Of Game-Based Learning (Call for Papers)

Authors are invited to submit manuscripts to be considered for inclusion in the first issue of the fourth volume of the International Journal of Game-Based Learning (IJGBL) (http://igi-global.com/ijgbl/)  to be published in April 2014. Papers should be submitted on or before 15th October 2013 to ijgbl.editor@gmail.com.

Mission
The mission of the International Journal of Game-Based Learning (IJGBL) is to promote knowledge pertinent to the design of Game-Based Learning environments, and to provide relevant theoretical frameworks and the latest empirical research findings in the field of Game-Based Learning. The main goals of IJGBL are to identify, explain, and improve the interaction between learning outcomes and motivation in video games, and to promote best practices for the integration of video games in instructional settings. The journal is multidisciplinary and addresses cognitive, psychological and emotional aspects of Game-Based Learning. It discusses innovative and cost-effective Game-Based Learning solutions. It also provides students, researchers, instructors, and policymakers with valuable information in Game-Based Learning, and increases their understanding of the process of designing, developing and deploying successful educational games.IJGBL also identifies future directions in this new educational medium.

Coverage
Topics to be discussed in this journal include (but are not limited to) the following:

– Adaptive games design for Game-Based Learning
– Design of educational games for people with disabilities
– Educational video games and learning management systems
– Game design models and design patterns for Game-Based Learning
– Instructional design for Game-Based Learning
– Integration and deployment of video games in the classroom
– Intelligent tutoring systems and Game-Based Learning
– Learning by designing and developing video games
– Games for change
– Games for health
– Learning styles, behaviors and personalities in educational video games
– Mobile development and augmented reality for Game-Based Learning
– Motivation, audio and emotions in educational video games
– Role of instructors
– Virtual worlds and Game-Based Learning
– Gamification

Submission
Research papers submitted for this journal must be original submissions and should be between 5,500 to 8,000 words in length. Interested authors must consult the journal’s guidelines for manuscript submissions (http://www.igi-global.com/AuthorsEditors/AuthorEditorResources/JournalDevelopmentResources.aspx) prior to submission. All submissions will be forwarded to at least three members of the Editorial Review Board of the journal for double-blind, peer review. Final decision regarding acceptance/revision/rejection will be based on the reviews received from the reviewers. All submissions must be forwarded electronically to ijgbl.editor@gmail.com no later than 15th October 2013.

Getting Started with Unity is for 3D game developers who would like to learn how to use Unity3D and become familiar with its core features. This book is also suitable for intermediate users who would like to improve their skills. No prior knowledge of Unity3D is required.

Getting Started with Unity guides you progressively through the necessary steps to create a survival game using Unity3D’s built-in objects and components, JavaScript, animations with Mecanim, and some basic AI.

In this book, you will be introduced to a wide range of the core features used for games developed with Unity3D, including the user interface and much more. Furthermore, you will also learn about essential aspects like transformations, scripting, navigation, and built-in controllers.

Beginning with an introduction to the user interface, you will learn the necessary skills required to create a survival video game. Each section is a stepping-stone toward the completion of the final game. By the end of the book, you will have created an indoor level with enemies, AI, weapons, objects to collect, and all the logic to control the game.

More…