Transformative by Design? Subversive Game Design and Player Research

When games are designed to impact their users’ thinking beyond the created playful environment itself – learning is aimed at. Thereby the question arises, if games are constructive tools to foster transformative learning by challenging players’ perspectives. The following paper outlines the case study of a game design experiment that combines state of the art learning research with game design and qualitative research. The game project’s goal is exploring how to create subversive game design patterns in order to challenge the players to rethink their expectations and adjust their interpretations. The paper introduces the theoretical basis, the use of design patterns, and the methodology of the player’s study. Author