Introducing human-centered research to game design

This paper introduces a human-centered methodology for innovating gameplay, based on ethnographic principles and participatory design. This methodology was applied in a project for designing game concepts for and with senior citizens. The research started off by observing and probing senior citizens in their 'natural habitat', researching what positive experiences occur in their daily life. These observed passions then became the input for brainstorm sessions. Seniors and researchers generated game-ideas and, consequently, co-designed the selected ideas into game concepts.The results of this methodology are inspiring game concepts, directly grafted on the passions and desires of the senior. But more important than the actual game concepts, we conceived a model of passions in elderly life. This model provides game designers with an understanding of the ingredients that are fundamental to 'meaningful play' in elderly life.