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This study aimed to assess the level of writing performance of Maritime freshmen students and teachers' strategies in handling English 1 classes in the College of Maritime Education. The descriptive-correlational analysis method was used in this research. The respondents of the study were the bona fide Maritime freshmen students enrolled in Bachelor of Science in Maritime Transportation, Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering in the University of the Visayas, and English teachers assigned in the College of Maritime Education handling English 1 classes. The instrument utilized in the study was a researcher made questionnaire. The study revealed that the in the utilization of various teaching strategies in writing skills, the use of graphic organizers got the highest rank, followed by blue printing, and then peer talk. The least as ranked by the faculty were timeline, story starter, and simulation of games. The study further revealed that the Maritime freshmen students' level of writing performance as to vocabulary, 97.01% was identified as poor; 0.25% was identified as excellent, good, and satisfactory; and 2.24% was identified as unsatisfactory. For the level of writing performance as to sentence construction, 25.12% was identified as excellent; 18.41% was identified as very good; 17.91% was identified as good; 18.66% was identified as satisfactory; 8.71% was identified as unsatisfactory; and 11.19% was identified as poor. For the level of writing performance as to paragraph development, 88.31% was identified as poor; 1.24% was identified as good; 5.72% was identified as satisfactory; and 4.73% was identified as unsatisfactory. Nevertheless, the final grade obtained in English 1 classes was 2.7 identified as fair; 8.96% of the respondents' final grade was very good; 38.81% obtained a final grade as good; 41.2% obtained a final grade as fair; and 10.95% obtained a final grade of passed. However, the correlation of writing performance and final grade showed insignificant relationship, hence, all hypotheses were not rejected. The facilitating factors that influenced the teaching of writing skills were teachers' commitment, administration support and student's interest in writing. While the hindering factors were classroom non-conducive for learning, mass admission, lack of administration support, and heavy teaching load. In view of the findings and conclusion of the study, a program design is recommended to enhance the writing performance of maritime freshmen students which is beneficial to both students in the College of Maritime Education and English teachers as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental practice management is usually a mandatory course for both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. However, learners and educators may encounter challenges in gaining experiences in real-life dental practice. The concept of a gamified virtual tour could have potential to improve dental practice management skills. A quasi-experimental study was conducted to evaluate the educational impact of a gamified virtual dental clinic (GVDC) on dental practice management skills among dental undergraduates (UG) and postgraduates (PG). All participants were assigned to complete the GVDC. Pre- and post-knowledge assessments were administered to evaluate knowledge acquisition. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to investigate user perceptions toward the use of GVDC. There were 20 dental undergraduates and 20 orthodontic residents participating in UG and PG groups, respectively. Both groups demonstrated statistically significant increases in their assessment scores after completing the GVDC (P < 0.001). Although the pre-knowledge assessment score of the PG group was notably higher than that of the UG group (P = 0.041), there was no statistically significant difference in their post-knowledge assessment score (P = 0.491). Participants had positive perceptions of GVDC in terms of usefulness, ease of use, and enjoyment, with no statistically significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). Overall, the GVDC demonstrated positive educational impacts on acquiring knowledge and understanding of dental practice management, with participants expressing favorable perceptions of this immersive learning intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Psychologists are particularly interested in how people operate in stressful settings. The sporting arena is a "natural laboratory" for studying how people behave and perform in high-pressure situations. This study explores the gender differences in archers' ability to cope with adversity, highlighting the significant cold-hand effect observed in both male and female archers, with notable differences in the last arrow performance under pressure. Methods: Our method is a Poisson general linear model -based test for the cold hand that examines how the performance of the last arrow per set depends on the performance of the previous two shots. We also interact the player's gender with performance on the previous two arrows and game status to test for gender differences in response to past performance and intermediate game status. Results: The Poisson regression analysis reveals that male and female archers' performance dropped significantly after experiencing two consecutive missing bullseyes, which means a cold-hand effect exists. However, although there was no significant difference in the performance of male and female archers on the third arrow, female archers have significantly lower last arrow per set scores than male archers after near poor performance or being in a situation where losing can only be avoided by winning the current set. Discussion: This finding suggests that female archers are more vulnerable to the potentially negative effects of adversity caused by trailing or recent failures than their male counterparts. We attempt to explain the reasons behind the results above from both psychological and physiological perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Doctors in training (trainees) have higher rates of burnout, anxiety and depression than other professionals. An important psychological tool to combat this crisis is promotion of a growth mindset, which increases resilience and improves mental health outcomes. How growth mindset might be promoted within the clinical learning environment is underexplored. This study aimed to explore the factors promoting a growth mindset versus fixed mindset in trainees from the perspective of the trainees. Methods: This constructivist study employed a novel method of encouraging trainees' reflections on mindset adoption in the clinical learning environment. Trainees played Mindset, a tabletop simulation board game that included challenges encountered within training. This was followed by a facilitated debriefing, focusing on factors that promoted growth or fixed mindset adoption in the clinical learning environment. Debriefing transcripts were analysed using template analysis. Results: Three groups of oncology trainees and one group of medical education fellows participated (16 participants in total). Factors promoting growth mindset adoption included passion, collaboration, diverse career and role modelling. Factors promoting fixed mindset adoption included burnout and competition. Some factors, such as grit, previous success experience and singular training location promoted a fixed mindset when too much or too little were present, and promoted a growth mindset when they were in balance (the Goldilocks principle). Conclusions: The importance of balance versus excess of certain factors, and the ubiquitous competitive culture in medicine promoting a fixed mindset, were compelling reflections. This study may aid invested parties to reflect on what factors they can upregulate and down regulate to optimise trainees' adoption of a growth mindset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work studies the Hotelling game with sequential choice of prices, that is, the Stackelberg–Hotelling (SHOT) game. The game is studied through numerical simulation, which provides the subgame perfect equilibrium solution not only in the unrestricted game but also in the game with reservation cost and with elastic demand. The simulation technique is tested first in the unconstrained game, where the analytical subgame perfect equilibrium solution was already known. Then, the numerical procedure is generalized to cope with the SHOT game with reservation cost and with elastic demand. These enriched formulations of the SHOT game have not been studied so far, so this article provides an exploratory study of them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In Central Europe, one of the main issues in wildlife management at present is its increasing abundance. As population density increases, diseases that directly or indirectly affect humans are also becoming more prevalent. Although fibropapillomatosis is one of the diseases that does not threaten humans, the accumulation of some heavy metals in tumours has been shown to occur at concentrations that would already be toxic to humans and wildlife. In general, the heavy metal content in wild animal tissues is a partly known topic that was studied on muscle or internal organs but is almost unstudied in tumours. Therefore, we evaluated the content of selected heavy metals in roe deer—the most widespread wildlife species across Europe. If the accumulation of these heavy metals in the tumours also affects the muscle of the individual, which is then intended for consumption by the final consumer, such meat could be considered a health hazard. This pilot study is a cornerstone for further research to clarify the safety or otherwise of meat from wild game affected by fibropapillomatosis. In recent decades, there has been an increase in European wild ungulate populations, often associated with a decline in health and spread of disease. This is true for the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), the most common European cervid, with populations apparently affected by fibropapillomatosis, an increasingly common cancer. To date, however, there has been little research into this disease, thus many interactions remain unclear and descriptions of tumour composition are poorly validated. The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence and concentration of toxic heavy metals in roe deer skin tumours. Our results confirmed the presence of virtually all the metals tested for, i.e., Pb, Hg, Cd, As, Cr, Mn, Al, Co, Cu, Ni, Se, Zn, and Fe, with the highest average concentrations found for Cr (0.99 mg/kg−1 ± 2.23 SD), Cd (0.03 mg/kg−1 ± 0.03 SD), and Hg (0.02 mg/kg−1 ± 0.02 SD), exceeding FAO limits for meat from slaughtered animals. We also observed a significant positive relationship between heavy metal concentration and age, especially for Pb, As, Hg, Mn, Se, Al, Zn, and Ni. Our findings provide a strong baseline for further research on the impact of fibropapillomatosis, not only on the welfare and health status of game but also on the final consumer of venison, which in many respects is regarded as a high-quality, ecological, and renewable wild resource. While deer with this disease are not considered qualitatively or medically defective, they could represent a potential reservoir of substances toxic to humans and could affect substance levels in adjacent tissues or the animal as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public transport plays an indispensable role in the whole public transport system. This paper makes an in-depth study on how public transport can provide passengers with higher service quality while meeting the needs of passengers. In order to achieve this research goal, this paper organically incorporates the three key subjects of government supervision, public transport and passengers into the research framework. Evolutionary game theory is used to construct the corresponding research model. It has been found that the decision-making behaviours of government regulators, public transport and passengers are intricately intertwined to influence each other in the evolutionary process. It is particularly noteworthy that the incentive or punishment measures adopted by the government have a great impact on the quality of public transport services. In addition, timely supervision and inspection of government regulatory authorities by higher authorities proved to be crucial for buses to provide stable and high-quality services. This study reveals the mechanisms of interaction between different subjects in the public transport system, particularly the government-guided incentive measures and supervision mechanism to promote the overall service level. To further support the research conclusions, this paper carries on the simulation analysis, and puts forward the countermeasures and suggestions for the bus to provide high-quality service according to the simulation results. These recommendations will help guide the government, public transport and passengers to make better decisions in the synergistic development process, thereby improving the overall level of service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: City simulation games provide players a gaming experience by simulating different aspects of the real city. While there is an increasing scholarly interest in games for social learning and education, little research has been conducted to understand citizen perceptions and understanding of urban planning issues in city simulation games. Aim: This study aims to understand the affective perception and cognitive learning of citizens regarding urban planning elements in the online communities of Cities: Skylines. Research Methods: We develop a new methodological approach based on social media data analytics. Large datasets were scraped from Reddit, the most popular social media platform for video game players. The collected data were subjected to content analysis and sentiment analysis that identify different types of topics and emotions to understand citizens' cognitive and affective perspectives. Key Findings and Conclusion: The findings show that positive emotions were often about the game design, while negative emotions conveyed real-world planning problems such as transportation concerns. The cognitive dimension uncovered citizens' urban recognition tied to personal experiences in various geographical contexts. This study has practical implications for game design for urban planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Student teachers commonly struggle to apply theoretical knowledge to their teaching. This theory-practice gap is a serious problem in teacher education. Over the past decade, simulations and serious games have been shown as an effective way to practice the transfer of theoretical knowledge in authentic settings of skill-use. Approximating theory-based teaching practice via repeated use of simulation games, thus, may be able to close the theory-practice gap in teacher education. Aim: We aimed to assess whether repeatedly engaging with simulated teaching and theory-based feedback would improve student teachers' teaching self-efficacy, transfer of theories into teaching situations and their perceived usefulness of theories. Method: N = 86 student teachers learned twice with either a digital simulation game depicting decision-making in the classroom (simulation condition) or with screenshots of the game (control condition). After each phase, student teachers received theory-based feedback about (their) teaching. Results: Against our hypothesis, there were no changes in both conditions regarding student teachers' teaching self-efficacy, perceived usefulness of theories for practice, or integration of theory-based arguments into practical reasoning. Nonetheless, we found positive effects for learning time and motivation favoring the simulation condition. Conclusion: Our results point towards the motivating potential of simulation games that was, however, not sufficient to close the theory-practice gap. It seems that the theory-practice integration within the simulation game needs to be even stronger to reveal the desired effects, which needs to be subject to further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are different interactions and physiological patterns in coordination meetings between non-lean and last planner system (LPS)-based project teams. This phenomenon is the result of the top-down workflow control in the LPS that seems to influence group interaction and physiological processes differently compared to non-lean production planning and control approaches that use a bottom-up workflow control. The current LPS management practices focus on developing performance indicators instead of establishing process-oriented initiatives that optimize the temporal patterns of social interaction and physiological processes. Understanding the differences in behavioral and physiological patterns among non-lean and LPS-based project teams can support non-lean project teams in transitioning to LPS-based social and physiological patterns. Incorporating video recordings and physiological sensors such as electrodermal activity (EDA) can capture group interactions and concurrent physiological responses. The multiuser immersive virtual reality-based LPS simulation game (MILPS) is an innovative simulation tool to investigate these patterns in a controlled environment. This study uses MILPS, EDA sensors, and video recordings to investigate the impact of LPS on social interactions and physiological patterns during coordination meetings. A total of 90 participants, forming 30 groups, participated in a two-round experiment consisting of both non-lean and LPS-based project planning and working tasks. The video and EDA data were analyzed to assess the temporal pattern of interactions and associated shared physiological arousals (SPA) in both rounds. The results indicate that more iterative patterns were observed between interaction phases in LPS-based rounds, whereas more sequential patterns were observed in non-lean rounds. A higher level of SPA was found during the negotiation, identification in LPS-based round compared with the non-lean round. The contribution of this study is twofold: (1) the behavioral and physiological patterns during coordination meetings for both non-lean and LPS-based project teams are characterized; and (2) insights are generated into management and training strategies to facilitate LPS implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore how Game-based Learning (GBL) can improve Sustainable Development (SD) competencies in higher education students. The paper aims to address the challenge of gradual transformation of educational processes in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to align Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with learning outcomes of curricula and learning preferences of new generations of students (Z and Alfa generations). Design/methodology/approach: The paper focuses on UNESCO Education for Sustainable Development, using a case study approach to discuss the SEED simulation game from the EU-funded SEED project. It analyzes the game’s design and effectiveness in developing students’ SD competencies and attitudes. Findings: The SEED simulation game presented in the paper may successfully enhance students’ understanding and internalization of key SD concepts as well as their applications in real-world businesses, through collaboration and decision-making with regard to sustainability challenges. Research limitations/implications: The analysis conducted is limited to controlled educational environment and design context of SEED simulation game. Further research is needed to explore long-term impact of an approach used, on students’ professional behavior in real business environments. Practical implications: The SEED simulation game demonstrates the potential of the GBL approach for integrating SD competencies into higher education curricula. This method aligns with new generations’ learning preferences, improving teaching practices and better preparing graduates to enhance future enterprise sustainability. Social implications: The paper emphasizes the role of HEIs in preparing sustainability oriented and focused professionals. It also suggests that using GBL approach to increase students’ SD awareness may positively impact public attitudes toward corporate and social responsibility. Originality/value: The paper provides valuable insights for educators on integrating SD learning outcomes into higher education curricula. It uniquely analyzes the role of the GBL approach in aligning learning outcomes with SDGs, serving as a key resource for stakeholders aiming to develop SD competencies in future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, new-energy vehicles are viewed as the ultimate goal for the automobile industry, given the current focus on the "dual-carbon" target. Therefore, it is important to promote the sustainable development of this new-energy market and ensure a smooth transition from fuel-driven vehicles to new-energy vehicles. This study constructs a tripartite evolutionary game model involving vehicle enterprises, consumers, and the government. It improves the tripartite evolutionary game through the mechanisms of dynamic and static rewards and punishments, respectively, using real-world data. The results show the following. (1) A fluctuation is present in the sales of new-energy vehicles by enterprises and the active promotional behavior of the government. This fluctuation leads to instability, and the behavior is difficult to accurately predict, which is not conducive new-energy vehicles' promotion and sales. (2) A static reward and punishment mechanism can change the fluctuation threshold or peak value. Nevertheless, the stability of the system's strategy is not the main reason that the government has been actively promoting it for a long time. However, enterprises are still wavering between new-energy and fuel vehicles. (3) The linear dynamic reward and punishment mechanism also has its defects. Although they are considered the stability control strategy of the system, they are still not conducive to stability. (4) The nonlinear dynamic reward and punishment mechanism can help the system to achieve the ideal stabilization strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This article explores the moral evaluation of video games from a virtue ethics perspective. It argues that actions in video games can still be evaluated morally, even if they are not traditionally considered in moral evaluations. The author examines previous attempts to justify the belief that certain video games or playing certain games are morally wrong, pointing out their limitations. The article proposes an identification theory based on Harry G. Frankfurt's theory of volition to explain why abnormal gaming behavior in normal games can be ethically problematic. It concludes by suggesting that virtue ethics can help us understand the ethical aspects of video games, as well as other areas such as simulation, art, and literature. [Extracted from the article]

Eco-spatial indices are commonly used tools to improve the quality of the environment in cities. Initially modelled on the Berlin BAF, indices have evolved to address current challenges, particularly climate change adaptation. The Ratio of Biologically Vital Areas (RBVA), introduced in Poland in the mid-1990s, is an early planning tool for implementing Nature-based Solutions (NbSs) at the site level. This research aimed to assess the effectiveness of the RBVA in Poland compared to its counterparts in Oslo and Malmö. The study employed a serious simulation game developed under the Norwegian-funded CoAdapt project, testing six development scenarios, varied in terms of applied NbSs, for a typical multi-family housing estate. The adaptive potential of the tested scenarios was assessed based on the values of five environmental parameters calculated in the game; that is, air temperature, oxygen production, CO2 sequestration, rainwater harvesting, and biodiversity. The findings revealed that the RBVA, in its current form, has limited effectiveness in supporting climate adaptation. Its two-dimensional nature makes it less effective than the more comprehensive Green Factors used in Oslo and Malmö. The research presented in the article proves that better-constructed indices result in the efficiency of applied NbSs and consequently better adaptation to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic difficulty adjustment of serious games is a field of research seeking to assist participants attain an ideal learning state. To achieve this, the difficulty of a game is adjusted in real-time to approach the capabilities of the player. Many dynamic difficulty adjustment systems only measure a few variables, often solely player performance, and adjust a limited number of in-game aspects. Little research has sought to ascertain if measuring a combination of cognitive load with measures of performance in real-time leads to a more effective dynamic difficulty adjustment system. Building on research which defined 'mental efficiency', we conducted a novel experiment to address this gap. This is achieved by comparing two versions of a surveillance training serious game; one a linear approach and the other with our unique cognitive load and performance-based dynamic difficulty adjustment system. Our experiment included n=52 participants (26 per treatment group). The experiment demonstrates that our approach achieved similar performance outcomes with lower cognitive load, in less time than the linear difficulty approach. These results indicate that our system enhances learning capacity and may prove beneficial for future serious games. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significance of birds in the medieval human diet has been greatly explored in Europe. However, there is a lack of systematic analysis of data from Croatia. Avian remains dated to the Late Medieval and Early Modern Periods from five archaeological sites in continental Croatia underwent skeletal and taxonomic analysis. Age groups were determined and sex identification was conducted using visual and X-ray diagnostics. Chicken bone measurements were taken, and the logarithmic size index (LSI) technique was performed. Statistical analysis was applied to explore differences between sites. A total of 694 avian remains were studied, revealing 10 species/genera. Avian remains ranged from 8.88% to 20.32% across sites, with the highest percentage found at the urban site BAN. Hens outnumbered cockerels across all sites, with adult chickens prevailing over immature and subadult ones. Chicken sizes were generally consistent across sites, except for castle MIL, where a larger breed was identified. Cockerels tended to be larger than hens, except for one small-sized spurred specimen. To conclude, bird exploitation complemented the use of other animals in diets. Chickens were vital for eggs and meat, with monasteries excelling in bird husbandry over castles. Inhabitants of urban areas mainly consumed bird meat. Castles showed high status through game and imported birds. The aim of this article was to fill in the gap of information regarding the exploitation and consumption of birds at Croatian sites during the Late Medieval and Early Modern Periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The principle of minimum differentiation stated by Hotelling in his pioneer paper was proved to be invalid 50 years later, since there is a region where the players are so close that Nash equilibrium does not exist. Some authors have contributed with amendments to the original game in the aim of ensuring the existence of Nash equilibrium independently of the location of the players. However, this work analyzes the less frequently studied case of the Hotelling game with close players under different implementations of the game, considering elastic and inelastic demand (conventional Hotelling game, the Hotelling game with reservation cost and Hotelling-Smithies game). The study is supported by means of numerical simulation of the game. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Campus Virtuales is the property of Campus Virtuales and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

There has unavoidably been a problem for international grain cooperation in the Asia–Europe region as a result of the Russian–Ukrainian conflict. Analysis of the impact of Russian–Ukrainian conflict on the evolution of grain trade cooperation, identifying key influencing factors and formulating corresponding measures are of practical value for safeguarding grain security in the Asia–Europe region. In this paper, a grain trade network is constructed according to grain trade data from the Asian–European grain trade cooperation countries. A grain trade network game (GTNG) model of grain trade cooperation is established in order to investigate the elements that influence trade cooperation. The reciprocal preference is introduced. Through simulation experiments, the effects of cooperation costs, neighboring countries' incentives, and punitive pressures, the degree of goodwill perception, the types of game, and the proportion of initial cooperators on trade cooperation are examined. This study may give useful policy recommendations for promoting Asia–Europe grain trade cooperation under the influence of the Russian–Ukrainian conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While game-based learning has demonstrated positive outcomes for some learners, its efficacy remains variable. Adaptive scaffolding may improve performance and self-regulation during training by optimizing cognitive load. Informed by cognitive load theory, this study investigates whether adaptive scaffolding based on interaction trace data influences learning performance, self-regulation, cognitive load, test performance, and engagement in a medical emergency game. Methods: Sixty-two medical students from three Dutch universities played six game scenarios. They received either adaptive or nonadaptive scaffolding in a randomized double-blinded matched pairs yoked control design. During gameplay, we measured learning performance (accuracy, speed, systematicity), self-regulation (self-monitoring, help-seeking), and cognitive load. Test performance was assessed in a live scenario assessment at 2- and 6–12-week intervals. Engagement was measured after completing all game scenarios. Results: Surprisingly, the results unveiled no discernible differences between the groups experiencing adaptive and nonadaptive scaffolding. This finding is attributed to the unexpected alignment between the nonadaptive scaffolding and the needs of the participants in 64.9% of the scenarios, resulting in coincidentally tailored scaffolding. Exploratory analyses suggest that, compared to nontailored scaffolding, tailored scaffolding improved speed, reduced self-regulation, and lowered cognitive load. No differences in test performance or engagement were found. Discussion: Our results suggest adaptive scaffolding may enhance learning by optimizing cognitive load. These findings underscore the potential of adaptive scaffolding within GBL environments, cultivating a more tailored and effective learning experience. To leverage this potential effectively, researchers, educators, and developers are recommended to collaborate from the outset of designing adaptive GBL or computer-based simulation experiences. This collaborative approach facilitates the establishment of reliable performance indicators and enables the design of suitable, preferably real-time, scaffolding interventions. Future research should confirm the effects of adaptive scaffolding on self-regulation and learning, taking care to avoid unintended tailored scaffolding in the research design. Trial registration: This study was preregistered with the Center for Open Science prior to data collection. The registry may be found at https://osf.io/7ztws/. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The object of this research is an approach to simulating the combat operation of artillery in computer games based on Markov processes. In modern computer games, an important role is played by the realism and plausibility of combat simulation. One of the most difficult and at the same time most interesting tasks is the modeling of artillery operations, where it is necessary to take into account numerous factors affecting the effectiveness of combat work. The research was aimed at improving the methods and models of controlling the combat work of artillery under the conditions for the firing position change and the presence of external disturbances. The use of stochastic models allows more accurate modeling of the behavior of artillery units, taking into account the random nature of many parameters, such as projectile speed, reload time, and the probability of detection by enemy forces. The proposed approach includes the development of a simulation model that allows determining optimal strategies to achieve maximum effectiveness of combat work. The model is based on Markov processes, which allows taking into account possible system states and probable transitions between them. This allows not only to simulate combat operations, but also to predict the results depending on different scenarios. The results of the study show that the use of Markov processes in the simulation of combat operations can significantly increase the realism and efficiency of artillery operations in computer games. This opens up new opportunities for game developers to create more immersive and authentic gaming experiences. The proposed model can be used as a basis for further research and improvement of combat simulation methods in computer games. It can also be used in military simulators and simulators where realistic combat conditions must be taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Regulatory Theory of Temperament distinguishes two traits involving the time course of responses and four relating to how energy is distributed and stored. This theory enables the presentation of entire structures of temperament traits and it is relevant for assessing an individual's ability to process stimulation and influence their performance during competitions. In our cross-sectional study, these structures are examined in relation to the offensive, defensive, and comprehensive effectiveness of an individual player's actions. Methods: The study included 91 football players aged between 20 and 31 years, who had approximately 10 years of training experience. The Formal Characteristics of Behavior - Temperament Inventory was utilized to assess temperamental traits, while a simulation game was employed to evaluate the effectiveness of each individual player's actions. Results: Research demonstrated that football players possessing a temperament structure that is closely aligned harmonized structure with a high capacity to process stimulation showed higher levels of individual efficacy in attack, defence, and comprehensive effectiveness of performance compared to football players with a harmonized temperament structure but a low capacity to process stimulation. Conclusion: The obtained result emphasises the significance of specific temperament structures in terms of matching the individual's stimulation levels and the their ability to process it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article we study the social dynamic of temporal partitioning congestion games (TPGs), in which participants must coordinate an optimal time-partitioning for using a limited resource. The challenge in TPGs lies in determining whether users can optimally self-organize their usage patterns. Reaching an optimal solution may be undermined, however, by a collectively destructive meta-reasoning pattern, trapping users in a socially vicious oscillatory behavior. TPGs constitute a dilemma for both human and animal communities. We developed a model capturing the dynamics of these games and ran simulations to assess its behavior, based on a 2×2 framework that distinguishes between the players' knowledge of other players' choices and whether they use a learning mechanism. We found that the only way in which an oscillatory dynamic can be thwarted is by adding learning, which leads to weak convergence in the no-information condition and to strong convergence in the with-information condition. We corroborated the validity of our model using real data from a study of bats' behaviour in an environment of water scarcity. We conclude by examining the merits of a complexity-based, agent-based modelling approach over a game-theoretic one, contending that it offers superior insights into the temporal dynamics of TPGs. We also briefly discuss the policy implications of our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In rational decision-making processes, the information interaction among individual robots is a critical factor influencing system stability. We establish a game-theoretic model based on mutual information to address division of labor decision-making and stability issues arising from differential information interaction among swarm robots. Firstly, a mutual information model is employed to measure the information interaction among robots and analyze its influence on the behavior of individual robots. Secondly, employing the Cournot model and the Stackelberg model, we model the diverse decision-making behaviors of swarm robots influenced by discrepancies in mutual information. The intricate decision dynamics exhibited by the system under the disparity mutual information values during the game process, along with the stability of Nash equilibrium points, are analyzed. Finally, dynamic complexity simulations of the game models are simulated under the disparity mutual information values: (1) When ν1 of the game model varies within a certain range, the Nash equilibrium point loses stability and enters a chaotic state. (2) As I(X;Y) increases, the decision-making pattern of robots transitions gradually from the Cournot game to the Stackelberg game. Concurrently, the sensitivity of swarm robotics systems to changes in decision parameter decreases, reducing the likelihood of the system entering a chaotic state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development in artificial intelligence has dramatically changed all industries, among which Al-assisted air combat is a representative case of success. An Intelligent air combat model that consists of the attainment of samples and a decision-making model is constructed in connection with air combat simulator. Considering the characteristics of air combat continuous states and actions, DQN algorithm is selected as the model of intelligent air combat by comparison among several algorithms. Meanwhile, the Al network is trained interactively with Al enemies in the air combat simulation game DCS World, resulting in a model that is able to manipulate aircraft to a degree and many cases of air combat, by analyzing which a collection of winning, losing and dual samples is derived. The result of simulation indicates that the Intelligent air combat model has certain ability to generate strategic samples and enrich tactics in air combat environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In this paper, we explore the potential of games to collect empirical data for informing agent-based simulation models of migration. To examine the usefulness of game-based approaches, we conducted a simple, yet carefully designed psychological experiment. Methods: In a preregistered study, we used a novel, immersive experimental setting to investigate the risky migration decisions made by migrants and non-migrants. Participants (284 migrants and 284 non-migrants) played a choice-based interactive fiction game—a fully text-based game where players progress by selecting from a list of possible actions—that involved making three risky migration decisions. In one condition, participants were shown a non-linear progress bar and explicit acknowledgements of the choices they made to promote perceived agency: the feeling that one's actions have a non-trivial impact on the game. In the other condition, the progress bar was linear, and the explicit acknowledgements were omitted. Results: Our experimental manipulation was successful; participants in the former condition self-reported higher perceived agency than participants in the latter condition, as did migrants compared to non-migrants. Nevertheless, condition and migrant status did not meaningfully affect the risky migration decisions participants made in the game. Conclusion: These findings indicate that the results of generic studies on risky migration decisions conducted on non-migrants can potentially inform simulation models of migration. However, these findings were obtained from a single experiment, and thus warrant replication and further research before definitive conclusions can be drawn. Furthermore, a simple text-based game may be too superficial to allow deep insights into the idiosyncrasies of migration decision-making. This suggests a possible trade-off between clear interpretability of the results and the usefulness for informing simulation models of complex social processes, such as migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Simulations, ludic or otherwise, have so far struggled to gain a foothold in mainstream historiography. Some authors suggest there may be fundamental incompatibilities between history and the language of simulations and scholarly games. Others believe that designing, employing, and validating historical simulations may be simply too costly and/or labor-intensive to justify their widespread adoption. Intervention: This paper intends to identify points of friction between historiography and simulation-based research and suggest practical solutions to these issues. Methods: My discussion is based on the description and analysis of a case study, the ThomondSim/ The Triumphs of Turlough research project. The initiative consisted of the development and application of an agent-based computational model (ABM) and a scholarly board game to investigate the possible associations between economic, environmental, and military hazards in 13th and 14th centuries Ireland. Results and Discussion: Ensuring the simulations matched historical evidence to a standard deemed acceptable by the historiographical community limited their phase space, compromising their capacity to explore emergent phenomena. The intricacy of the underlying conceptual model suited the ABM better than the board game, which struggled to reconcile complexity with good game design practices. The board game, however, proved to be an effective validating tool for the ABM. Limitations and Suggestions for Further Research: The project espoused an overt simulation- and game-centric approach, paying little attention to unguided play. Recent literature suggests that fostering, rather than hindering, playful exploration could address some of the pitfalls identified by this project. Conclusion: Play could be a means of reconciliation between simulational, ludic, and historiographical practices. However, to ensure that projects adhere to epistemic standards, it is recommended that a methodology is developed to integrate it into research in ways that can be tested and evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically, female athletes have been marginalized in both the fields of sport and videogames, and there is limited work that examines how female athletes have been represented in sport simulation videogames. In this article, this gap is addressed by tracing the history of playable female athlete characters in sport simulation videogames from the 1980s to the present. Unlike esports, which are sporting competitions, sport simulation games represent an element of sport such as gameplay or management. Playable athlete characters are important in these games because they are at once the equivalent of protagonists in a film or novel and are also the avatar through which videogame players interact with that storyworld. To illustrate the key insights that can be drawn from the study of such characters, the trajectory of playable female athletes in sport simulation games is traced across three periods: 1980–1995, 1995–2010, and 2010–2023. Analyzing this history through the lens of hegemony and intersectionality illuminates the general arc of playable female athletes within the sport simulation genre and also demonstrates how representations of female athletes in videogames register historical trends from the fields of both sports and videogames. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interconnection between engineering simulations, real-world experiments, and virtual reality remains underutilised in engineering. This study addresses this gap by implementing such interconnections, focusing on active thermography for a carbon fibre plate in the aerospace domain. Six scenarios based on three parameters were simulated using ComSol Multiphysics 6.2 and validated experimentally. The results were then integrated into a virtual reality serious game developed with Unreal Engine 5.3.2 and aimed at educating users on thermography principles and aiding rapid experimental condition analysis. Users are immersed in a 3D representation of the research laboratory, allowing interaction with the environment, understanding thermographic setups, accessing instructional videos, and analysing results as graphs or animations. This serious game helps users determine the optimal scenario for a given problem, enhance thermography principle comprehension, and achieve results more swiftly than through real-world experimentation. This innovative approach bridges the gap between simulations and practical experiments, providing a more engaging and efficient learning experience in engineering education. It highlights the potential of integrating simulations, experiments, and virtual reality to improve understanding and efficiency in engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Investigate acute locomotor, internal (heart rate (HR) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE)) and neuromuscular responses to using wearable resistance loading for soccer-specific training. Methods: Twenty-six footballers from a French 5th division team completed a 9-week parallel-group training intervention (intervention group: n = 14, control: n = 12). The intervention group trained with wearable resistance (200-g on each posterior, distal-calf) for full-training sessions on Day + 2, D + 4 and unloaded on D + 5. Between-group differences in locomotor (GPS) and internal load were analyzed for full-training sessions and game simulation drills. Neuromuscular status was evaluated using pre- and post-training box-to-box runs. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-modelling, effect size ±90% confidence limits (ES ± 90%CL) and magnitude-based decisions. Results: Full-training sessions: Relative to the control, the wearable resistance group showed greater total distance (ES [lower, upper limits]: 0.25 [0.06, 0.44]), sprint distance (0.27 [0.08, 0.46]) and mechanical work (0.32 [0.13, 0.51]). Small game simulation (<190 m2/player): wearable resistance group showed small decreases in mechanical work (0.45 [0.14, 0.76]) and moderately lower average HR (0.68 [0.02, 1.34]). Large game simulation (>190 m2/player): no meaningful between-group differences were observed for all variables. Training induced small to moderate neuromuscular fatigue increases during post-training compared to pre-training box-to-box runs for both groups (Wearable resistance: 0.46 [0.31, 0.61], Control: 0.73 [0.53, 0.93]). Conclusion: For full training, wearable resistance induced higher locomotor responses, without affecting internal responses. Locomotor and internal outputs varied in response to game simulation size. Football-specific training with wearable resistance did not impact neuromuscular status differently than unloaded training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Musculoskeletal disorders challenge significantly the performance of many daily life activities, thus impacting the quality of life. The efficiency of the traditional physical therapy programs is limited by ecological parameters such as intervention duration and frequency, number of caregivers, geographic accessibility, as well as by subjective factors such as patient's motivation and perseverance in training. The implementation of VR rehabilitation systems may address these limitations, but the technology still needs to be improved and clinically validated. Furthermore, current applications generally lack flexibility and personalization. A VR rehabilitation game simulation is developed, which focuses on the upper-limb movement of reaching, an essential movement involved in numerous daily life activities. Its novelty consists in the integration of a machine learning algorithm, enabling highly adaptive and patient-customized therapeutic intervention. An immersive VR system for the rehabilitation of reaching movement using a bubble popping game is proposed. In the virtual space, the patient is presented with bubbles appearing at different locations and is asked to reach the bubble with the injured limb and pop it. The implementation of a Q-learning algorithm enables the game to adjust the location of the next bubble according to the performance of the patient, represented by his kinematic characteristics. Two test cases simulate the performance of the patient during a training program of 10 days/sessions, in order to validate the effectiveness of the algorithm, demonstrated by the spatial and temporal distribution of the bubbles in each evolving scenario. The results show that the algorithm learns the patient's capabilities and successfully adapts to them, following the reward policy dictated by the therapist; moreover, the algorithm is highly responsive to kinematic features' variation, while demanding a reasonable number of iterations. A novel approach for upper limb rehabilitation is presented, making use of immersive VR and reinforcement learning. The simulation suggests that the algorithm offers adaptive capabilities and high flexibility, needed in the comprehensive personalization of a rehabilitation process. Future work will demonstrate the concept in clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To effectively grasp the interactive evolution mechanism of relevant entities in the process of competitive neutrality and reveal the impact of the implementation effect of the principle of competitive neutrality on the evolution path of the game system is the key to guiding the development of the government, industry associations and enterprises with reasonable policies. The equilibrium point of the game is analyzed by the four-party evolutionary game model, and the influence of the change of relevant parameters on the evolution result of the game system is further simulated by numerical simulation. The results show that the central government supervision plays an important role in guiding the strategy selection of different game players. By raising the penalty standards for nonneutral competitive behavior of market players and increasing the non-neutral penalty for local governments, the system can evolve faster to the ideal state of "loose supervision by the central government, neutral implementation by local governments, strong supervision by industry associations, and active cooperation by enterprises." Therefore, to improve the execution effect of competitive neutrality, the central government shall formulate a reasonable regulatory system, and to maximize inspire the enthusiasm of local government, industry associations and enterprises, to promote stability in the sustainable development of the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the factors influencing the lack of Braille-embossed labels in Chinese pharmaceutical product packaging. To this end, this study constructs an evolutionary game model of multi-participant behaviour in drug production regulation and conducts simulation based on the perspective of stakeholders in order to study the evolutionary steady state of regulatory authorities, pharmaceutical companies, and visually impaired individuals and the influence of each parameter variable on the choice of strategic behaviour of the participants. The simulation results show that in the legal framework of China, administrative penalties, the production subsidy rate, and the Basic Medical Insurance (BMI) reimbursement rate are the main drivers of the system's evolution towards a steady state. Reduced costs of drugs with Braille-embossed packaging is a prerequisite for the visually impaired to purchase such drugs, and the key for the whole system to converge to a stable state therefore lies in the BMI reimbursement rate for drugs with Braille-embossed packaging. This paper suggests that the Chinese government should improve the law enforcement mechanism for the regulation of the production of drugs with Braille-embossed packaging; increase the type and intensity of administrative penalties as well as production subsidies, tax incentives, and compliance incentives for pharmaceutical companies; and provide higher BMI reimbursement rates for the visually impaired. The results of the study provide valuable insights to improve accessibility to drugs and build a barrier-free environment for ensuring medication safety in China and other developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immersive virtual learning environments (iVLEs), particularly serious games and virtual simulations, typically ignore psychomotor skills development, partly due to the difficulty and cost associated with accurately replicating touch. Simulating touch, also known as haptics, requires specialized haptic devices that are not widely accessible at the consumer-level. Using visual (and/or auditory) cues, pseudo-haptics aims to mimic touch sensations without haptic devices. Although pseudo-haptics has predominantly focused on visual cues, a 2019 review by Collins and Kapralos on pseudo-haptics emphasized the role of auditory cues and cross-modal interactions. Since then, great advancements, notably during the COVID-19 pandemic's shift to remote learning, have been made. Here, we build upon the work of Collins and Kapralos with a narrative review on audio-based pseudo-haptics. This narrative review explores 17 articles obtained from the Google Scholar, RefSeek, Scopus, and PubMed databases, with the aim of providing a comprehensive summary of the progress in this field since 2019. Pseudo-haptics presents a viable alternative to simulate various aspects of touch, including weight, stiffness, roughness, dampness, force, and glossiness, when haptic devices are unavailable, enhancing immersion and providing the potential to improve psychomotor skill training within iVLEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper investigates how individuals' decision-making approach and perceptions of a game's cognitive realism affect the performance of virtual businesses in a web-based simulation game. Design/methodology/approach: Survey data are collected from 274 business simulation game users and is analysed using the fsQCA technique. Findings: The study identifies three alternative pathways to high and low performance in a business simulation game. Results indicate that a flexible decision-making approach exists in all high performance pathway solutions. Where a game is perceived to be realistic, a more focused decision-making approach is associated with high performance. However, where perceived cognitive realism is absent, a less focused experimental decision-making approach is employed, which increases the chances to achieve low performance. Finally, perceived cognitive realism and an experimental decision-making approach are found to be mutually exclusive for achieving high performance. Originality/value: Whilst the learning benefits of web-based simulation games are widely acknowledged, the complex interplay amongst factors affecting performance in games is under-researched. Limited research exists on how perceptions of a game's cognitive realism interact with user decision-making approaches to affect performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last 30 years, the last planner system (LPS), as a Lean-driven production planning and control tool, has consistently demonstrated its capability to improve planning reliability and overall performance in construction projects. Recent research provides evidence suggesting that the LPS ability to do good to projects has not reached its full potential yet. In fact, it has been observed that by identifying the missing social mechanisms in its implementation process and managing more effectively the complex socio-technical nature of the LPS, its implementation effectiveness is improved. However, commonly used research approaches, such as the case study method, have been criticized for lacking scientific control, replicability, and external validity. Alternatively, immersive virtual reality (IVR)-based simulation games have the methodological capability to enable the study of the social mechanisms that the LPS engenders when implemented in projects, by providing a highly controlled, reproducible, and ecologically valid experimental environment. However, how to leverage effectively IVR-based gaming technology to study the social mechanisms that the LPS engenders in construction organizations is not well understood. In order to bridge this gap, this paper established the conceptual and technical foundations to set IVR-based experimental environments and developed an IVR prototype encompassing nonlean and LPS-based rounds. The evaluation of the IVR prototype involved both quantitative and qualitative research approaches, focusing on its functionality, user-perceived presence and usability, task performance, and lean expert feedback. The results demonstrated the prototype's capability to create a controlled experimental environment while offering participants a user-friendly, immersive, and realistic LPS simulation experience. The contributions of this study are twofold: (1) the addition of a new method to the research methodology toolbox in construction engineering and management; and (2) the generation of design insights to develop IVR prototypes for research in construction engineering and management, and preliminary evidence for its ecological validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With China's commitment to achieving a carbon peak and carbon neutralisation by 2030 and 2060, respectively, the government's requirements for enterprises to adopt green technology are becoming increasingly urgent. We established a tripartite evolutionary game model of an enterprise, government and bank. We analysed conditions for the existence of stable points and factors affecting the choice of stakeholder's strategy. The influence of the change in each parameter on the evolutionary stable strategy was further studied. We found that the government's reward, subsidy and taxes for enterprise's green technology innovation can increase the willingness of enterprises to implement green technology innovation, and the role of taxes is greater than that of subsidies. The preferential interest rate for green innovation is conducive to stimulating enterprises to engage in green innovation, but the increase in the cost of green credit will reduce the willingness of banks to provide green credit. With the increase in the subsidy, incentives and the cost of environmental regulation, the policy burden of the government will gradually increase, thus reducing the willingness of the government to implement environmental regulation policy. The research presented in this paper furthers work on the theoretical modelling of green credit and environmental regulation policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural non-point source pollution control (ANSPC) is a complex, long-term and dynamic environmental protection process. In order to motivate multiple subjects to participate in ANSPC, this paper constructs a tripartite evolutionary game model of local government, village collectives and farmers, which explores the strategic choices and influencing factors of different subjects through simulation analysis. The results indicate that: There are five stable strategy points in the ANSPC game system, which can be divided into four stages based on subject interactions. Village collectives should play an intermediary role in ANSPC and try to coordinate the behaviour of different subjects. The ideal and stable evolution state is "weak supervise, positive response, and active participate", but it cannot be realized at present. The strategy selection of subjects is determined by relative net income. Providing penalties requires considering the heterogeneity of subjects, but incentives are beneficial for achieving tripartite governance. This study provides new evidence for understanding the role of multi-agency participation in agricultural non-point source pollution control, and provides theoretical guidance for the government to formulate differentiated intervention mechanisms, which is an important reference for achieving sustainable development goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pinning control of complex networks is a hot topic of research in network science. However, most studies on pinning control ignore the impact of external interference on actual control strategies. To more comprehensively evaluate network synchronizability via pinning control in the attack–defense confrontation scenario, the paper constructs an attacker-defender game model. In the model, the attacker needs to control nodes in the network as much as possible. The defender will do their best to interfere with the attacker's control of the network. Through a series of experiments, we find that the random attack strategy is always the dominant strategy of the attacker in various equilibriums. On the other hand, the defender needs to constantly change dominant strategy in equilibrium according to the set of defense strategies and cost constraints. In addition, scale-free networks with different network metrics can also influence the payoff matrix of the game. In particular, the average degree of the network has an obvious impact on the attacker's payoff. Moreover, we further verify the correctness of the proposed attacker-defender game through a simulation based on the specific network synchronization dynamics. Finally, we conduct a sensitivity analysis in different network structures, such as the WS small-world network, the ER random network, and the Google network, to comprehensively evaluate the performance of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheelchair basketball (WB) is a sport modality adapted for people with disabilities who present functional classification (FC) according to their mobility, from 1.0 for players with lesser functional capacity up to 4.5 for great mobility and trunk control players. This study aimed to analyze and compare the external load (EL) and the internal load (IL) of the WB players according to their FC in 5 × 5 simulation game tasks. The main objective of this task was to develop a simulated game in which two teams of five players faced each other to resemble the physical demands of an official match. The development of these tasks allowed for the players to learn the different systems of play, and to improve tactical skills. To conduct the study, 12 (male) national professional WB players (years: 30.7 ± 4.82 and WB experience: 5 ± 1.43) participated in the study and were grouped according to FC. WIMU PROTM devices monitored the EL manufactured by RealTrack Systems in Almería, Spain, and to measure the player's IL, GarminTM Heart Rate (HR) bands were used (GarminTM in Olathe, KS, USA). The EL variables were divided as kinematic (distance, explosive distance, acc, dec, max. acc, max. dec, average speed, max. speed) and neuromuscular (player load, impact). The IL variables were average HR, max. HR and %max. HR. The main results show that players with greater functional capacity (FC = 4.0) developed higher values in the IL and neuromuscular variables analyzed (p < 0.05), as well as in some kinematic variables like distance, dec and average speed (p < 0.05). This information is relevant because it helps to personalize the training load based on competitive demands and create a gradual and adaptable training program. This information helps athletes to develop better performance during training and prevent injuries caused by overexertion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, to discuss the influence of concussion risk from the long-term use of American football helmets on collegiate teams, accident cases during the game are replicated based on game videos by simulations using whole-body numerical models and helmeted finite element human head models. The concussion risks caused by collisions were estimated using the mechanical parameters inside the skull obtained from finite element analyses. In the analyses, the different material properties of helmets identified by free-fall experiments using headform impactor-embedded helmets were used to represent brand-new and long-term-use helmets. After analyzing the five cases, it was observed that wearing a new helmet instead of a long-term-use one resulted in a reduction in the risk of concussion by 1 to 44%. More energy is attenuated by the deformation of the liners of the brand-new helmet, so the energy transferred to the head is smaller than that when wearing the long-term-use helmet. Thus, the long-term use of the helmet reduces its ability to protect the head. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Openness to experience (OTE) is one of the Big Five traits that describe the personality of the individual. Player satisfaction (Satisfaction) is composed of the factors of excitement, challenge, learning experience, team victory and self-discovery in a simulation game. OTE and Satisfaction appear to have a symbiotic relationship that feeds on their characteristics and outcomes. This study is undertaken to understand the relationship between OTE and Satisfaction in a simulation game. Objectives of the Study: The objectives are to develop a scale of OTE in the context of a simulation game, to identify the factors of OTE and to study the interactive effects of OTE and Satisfaction and their factors. Methods: An instrument of 40 statements was administered to 190 post-graduate management students at the end of a brand-related simulation game. It had 12 statements that represented OTE and 28 statements of the Satisfaction scale. The data was purified and processed for factor analysis ; the variables and their factors were subjected to correlation and regression. Results: Two OTE factors, each of eigenvalue greater than one, were extracted and named search for novelty and passion to know. Discussion: The conclusions of this study may be generalisable only to sample profiles that are most similar to the study sample, but not to other contexts due to the ambiguous effect of personality, contexts and cultures on the study variables. The strong positive correlations between OTE, Satisfaction and their factors show their bases in a common platform, i.e. the experience of the simulation game. The search for novelty predicts Satisfaction more powerfully than OTE predicts Satisfaction. Self-discovery, learning experience and excitement affect OTE positively and more powerfully than challenge, team victory or Satisfaction. Further studies of passion, intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy may enhance our understanding of their impact on Satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Debriefing is a critical part of successfully implementing educational computer-based simulation games to maximize learning outcomes. Simulation game effectiveness, regarding exploring gaming characteristics and cognitive and affective impacts, has been thoroughly researched. However, debriefing is overlooked by some as time-consuming and unnecessary. Debriefing can be implemented as a process-based approach to increase experiential learning while facilitating educational simulation games. Minimal research has been conducted to identify approaches and components of successful debriefing communications and to gauge which aspects of the process are most impactful for learners. This article approaches planning debriefing interactions through a theoretical project management lens by applying a proactive, process-oriented, adaptive framework to develop a debriefing communications plan. Simulation games exhibit project characteristics, this framework is an appropriate and valuable approach to efficiently and effectively implement simulation games. Applying this theoretical framework with intentionality, integrating debriefing into educational simulation game facilitation, can contribute to favorable learning outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Business simulation games (BSG) offer a unique opportunity to provide students with hands-on experience in a simulated business environment. This study aims to explore the effectiveness of BSG in promoting entrepreneurial intentions and competencies among undergraduate students. The study was conducted with 48 students, who participated in BSG as part of their entrepreneurship education (EE). The study used a quasi-experiment to measure changes in students' cognitive and non-cognitive entrepreneurial competencies, as well as their entrepreneurial intentions. The results show that participation in the BSG significantly improved students' cognitive and non-cognitive entrepreneurial competencies, as well as their intention to start a new business. The study concludes that BSG can be an effective teaching strategy for promoting EE and developing entrepreneurial competencies among undergraduate students. However, further research with larger sample sizes and diverse populations is needed to confirm these findings and explore how combining BSG with other teaching methods or interventions can enhance the development of entrepreneurial competencies and intentions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]