The game I played was EteRNA. This game is produced by Stanford Medicine, National Institutes of Health, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute. This game allows players to manipulate strings of RNAs and learn how our RNAs connect and build the shapes our bodies need.
Kinds of Play
The game EteRNA implements a lot of different kinds of play. First, EteRNA involves competitive play. As the player completes each level, a rank board will appear and document each player’s score. Hence, this game brings in a competitive play, allowing players to “compete” against each other by checking each other’s rank and points.
Another kind of play that players can observe in EteRNA is cooperative play. While the player engages in the game, there is a chatbox on the right side of the screen. Players can choose to chat with players across the globe and, when stuck, can reach out for help. Hence, players can cooperate and complete the tasks together.
EteRNA also implements simulation-based play. The game simulates the shape of the RNA and shows players how the RNA would fold with the type of bondings the player chose. Additionally, the game simulates the calories the RNA would use in the top right corner. For players who would like to learn more about the structure and use of RNA, the game can show them different scenarios based on the structure the players built.
Lastly, EteRNA shows a type of experience-based play. Through instructions, players learn different kinds of bonding (A bonding with U, G bonding with C). Using this knowledge, players would create bonds in the given RNA. Although this game would be easier to play for players who have a basic understanding of RNA structures, this game is playable for those who don’t have any prior knowledge of RNA structure. In its essence, this game is more like a puzzle, and players need to find the pattern hidden behind the different bonds so that the puzzle pieces can fit together.
MDAO Framework
Mechanics
The rules for EteRNA are rather simple. Certain elements can create bonds together, and some elements don’t bond with each other. Some bonds are stronger than others. Players, by changing the position of the elements, can create different shapes with the RNA elements. The goal of each level is to create an RNA shape that matches the desired shape. The mechanics of this game are very simple and easy to play with.
Dynamics
The dynamics of this game are also very simple. There is no time pressure, so the player can take as long as one desires to accomplish each level. The different elements the player can manipulate offer a sense of freedom for this game, while the bonds make sure that players don’t have too much freedom to play with.
Aesthetics
The aesthetics, or the emotions that players feel when playing the game, can vary. Some players, confused by what kinds of elements can bond with, can feel frustrated when stuck on a problem. For example, I felt frustrated when I couldn’t figure out one of the problems, and I was rather confused when I couldn’t find a place where I could obtain hints to pass the level.
On the other hand, there are recognitions at the end of each level, as shown by the animations and a banner. Using these designs, the game helps to provide a sense of accomplishment in the players, which may, in turn, push the players to keep playing the game.
Outcomes
Lastly, the educational outcomes of this game can be different for everyone. For me, I have come to this game with some basic knowledge about RNA structures. Hence, the content is not new to me. I refresh my memory about the different kinds of bonds RNA can make. I was able to learn that different bonds have different strengths, and some bonds are stronger than others. However, I cannot yet assess how permanent this new knowledge can be. Personally, this game provides me with some new information that I can learn about.
