1. Introduction

Serious games are educational computer games. Not just for fun but also to learn from. These games are made using concepts and technologies stemming from the Games- and Entertainment industry to enhance knowledge, skills and experience. They are exceptionally suited to gear to the youths’ perception of their environment and way of life.

It was for this reason, that the Board of directors of ROC West Brabant (ROCWB) decided to order the development of a number of serious games: - an entrepreneurial game (Enterprise), which is a trigger to running a business (this game has been successfully launched and will be integrated into the curriculum in 2008/2009); - a language game, which will contribute to better language education; - a Dutch (mother tongue) game, which is meant to improve the spelling skills; - a calculus/maths game, which is meant to improve calculating skills.

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With these games a dynamic learning environment will be created which in turn: - will bring forth committed students and teachers (it is fun to do); - teaches students specific occupational skills besides facts and knowledge; - can activate different learning styles; - is geared to the students’ perception of the world and their way of living. These ‘serious games’ are being developed by ROCWB in cooperation with several parties namely: It-workz, Games Factory Online, Ranj and Xmediaworks. For the development of these games a temporary organisation has been formed comprised of several specialists. These specialists stem from the ROCWB as well as from external organisations.

2. The Language game for English

2.1 Goals

Educational/communicational goal
The language game aims at lowering the threshold to actively communicate in the English language and to deepen the four language skills both receptively (reading and listening) as well as productively (writing and speaking). The emphasis is on the communicative skills speaking and listening. The motto of the game is: Dare to speak! Students will be immersed into a virtual world, which challenges them to communicate. The active use of language functions is a stipulation for the student to be able to play the game. Aside from that the game will also enhance the student’s vocabulary.

Aim of the game.
The aim of the game can be split up into two parts, a personal goal and a group goal. Although each player has to work together with his team mates to bring the mission to an end (group goal), the players are also rewarded for their individual input. This is expressed in a rewarding system at the end of each mission, where players can compare who has the best score among their team (individual goal).

2.2 Target group
The target group consists of language teachers and all students (MBO/Edumaat) of ROCWB regardless of their vocational course. The first version of the game is not specific for any occupation. This can be realised, however, in the future.

2.3 Story
A group of students are on a school field trip on a boat. When the boat is damaged they are forced to moor at the nearest port on a party island. Despite their poor language skills in English, the official language on the island, they are received warmly by a local hotel owner. They lead a life of incredible luxury until the bill is presented. Without any money to spare, the hotel owner offers the students the possibility to pay their debts by doing some chores for him. They get different assignments and have to overcome the language barrier if they want to pay their dues. This can take quite some time in a place where anything goes.

3 Conclusion
The world is changing and so is everything in it including games and education. Where once it was unspeakable to link games to educational goals we now search for new ways to entertain and teach people. This is a fresh approach from both the educational world as well as the Games- and Entertainment industry. Although certain people would like us to believe that games and education do not go together (Microsoft’s Neil Thompson for example) we feel that we can prove them wrong. By providing the right mix of experts in their own territory, we strongly believe that games and education can go together. As long as the game developer does just that, develop the game world and its contents, and educational experts create the educational content, the dialogues of the inhabitants, the end result should be satisfactory for both parties. Of course there has to be a fair amount of deliberation between both parties in order to make such a game appealing, but that should not pose a problem.

Thanks to all that have helped and are still helping to realise these games. They are: ROC West Brabant, its teachers, its staff and its Board of Directors.
it-workz
Games Factory Online
Ranj
Xmediaworks
M&ICT (a Dutch government agency which subsidises innovative ICT projects)
Nederland Breedbandland (an agency that was installed to promote broadband internet in the Netherlands)

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