e-Learning and the Science of Instruction: Proven Guidelines for Consumers and Designers of Multimedia Learning

15.3. Balancing Motivation and Learning

The goal in game-based learning is to provide an instructional environment that is enjoyable AND achieves the learning objectives. What makes a game or simulation fun? Malone (1981) and Malone and Lepper (1987) identified four features that motivate persistence and enjoyment of games: (1) a challenge: a structure that is neither too simple nor too difficult; (2) control: the players must feel that they can affect the outcomes of the game and that the game maintains an optimal pace; (3) curiosity: for example, when exploratory opportunities lead to unpredictable outcomes; and (4) fantasy: the perception of participation in a made-up environment.

15.3.1. The America's Army Game

The America's Army game is ...