Serious Games Initative Receives Stamp Of Approval From UK Minister

Coventry University's Serious Games Institute has been praised by Lord Drayson, the UK Minister for Science and Innovation.

The Serious Games Institute, opened in 2007, works on using game technology for purposes other than entertainment, such as social networking, team-building and simulation.

Lord Drayson joined the Vice-Chancellor of Coventry University, Professor Madeleine Atkins to tour the £3 million facility and take a look at the various projects the Institute is working on, including games that train doctors how to handle triage and serious injury trauma and a full virtual mock up of the proposed new, eco-friendly Coventry city center.

Lord Drayson said of the institute, "The Serious Games Institute is leading the way in this exciting emerging technology. The projects here are truly inspirational and crucially, underpinned by excellent research. They will have real impact in our everyday lives over the next few years."

"This work goes to show that science and technology is all around us. By studying science subjects at school young people could have access to all sorts of cool and interesting jobs," he continued.

David Wortley, Director of the Serious Games Institute, was hopeful that the their work would help dispel some of the social stigma around videogames: "There is a perception that computer games and virtual worlds have negative social implications, but as Lord Drayson has seen today there are many positive applications that can deliver genuine solutions to real social and economic issues."

More information about the Serious Games Institute and its projects can be found here

Source: Game Politics

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Article says Conventry instead of Coventry in a couple of places.

Not any more. Good catch, thanks :)

Really? The Serious Games Institute? What an original title.

Video games are serious business.

Amazing how much games have moved up in the world. This article is proof that games are serious business. What a lot of serious games seem to lack though is fun.

Dommyboy:
Amazing how much games have moved up in the world. This article is proof that games are serious business. What a lot of serious games seem to lack though is fun.

To be honest it doesnt look like their designing 'fun' games but rather taking interactive game technology & applying it to more serious uses eg. medical training.

niilcypher:
works on using game technology for purposes other than entertainment, such as social networking, team-building and simulation.

So they'll be making MMOs then :-D

Now THIS is a job to get.

Hell, I use teaching games in law school all the time. The court room simulators would be boring as Hell to anyone not studying the material, but compared to listening to a lecture you learn a lot more and have a better time doing it.

Videogames are serious business in Coventry!

Games are and always have been a more effective teaching method then lecture. For some reason we stop using them once we get out of Kindergarden.