Spatial movement pattern recognition in soccer based on relative player movements

Knowledge of spatial movement patterns in soccer occurring on a regular basis can give a soccer coach, analyst or reporter insights in the playing style or tactics of a group of players or team. Furthermore, it can support a coach to better prepare for a soccer match by analysing (trained) movement patterns of both his own as well as opponent players. We explore the use of the Qualitative Trajectory Calculus (QTC), a spatiotemporal qualitative calculus describing the relative movement between objects, for spatial movement pattern recognition of players movements in soccer. The proposed method allows for the recognition of spatial movement patterns that occur on different parts of the field and/or at different spatial scales. Furthermore, the Levenshtein distance metric supports the recognition of similar movements that occur at different speeds and enables the comparison of movements that have different temporal lengths. We first present the basics of the calculus, and subsequently illustrate its applicability with a real soccer case. To that end, we present a situation where a user chooses the movements of two players during 20 seconds of a real soccer match of a 2016-2017 professional soccer competition as a reference fragment. Following a pattern matching procedure, we describe all other fragments with QTC and calculate their distance with the QTC representation of the reference fragment. The top-k most similar fragments of the same match are presented and validated by means of a duo-trio test. The analyses show the potential of QTC for spatial movement pattern recognition in soccer

Towards a System of Guidance, Assistance and Learning Analytics Based on Multi Agent System Applied on Serious Games

With the revolution that the education field has known concerning the methods of learning and especially the integration of new technology, several new tools have appeared to replace the tools already existing, and among them there are serious games, serious games as new tool dedicated to education have occupied an important place, and replaced other tools often used in the learning process. But in the order that serious games reach the intended objectives and help instructors to achieve their perspectives considered, they must be equipped with a guidance and assistance system that will assist the learners during the progression in the sequence of the video game, and in addition, they must be equipped with a system of learning analytics that will help instructors to improve the learning process and teaching methods according to the learning outcomes and feedbacks of their learners. In this perspective of research and development we will establish in this paper a new system of assistance, guidance and learning analytics based on a multi agent system that will work in tandem with a web-based serious game

A Mixed Method Approach for Evaluating and Improving the Design of Learning in Puzzle Games

Despite the acknowledgment that learning is a necessary part of all gameplay, the area of Games User Research lacks an established evidence based method through which designers and researchers can understand, assess, and improve how commercial games teach players game-specific skills and information. In this paper, we propose a mixed method procedure that draws together both quantitative and experiential approaches to examine the extent to which players are supported in learning about the game world and mechanics. We demonstrate the method through presenting a case study of the game Portal involving 14 participants, who differed in terms of their gaming expertise. By comparing optimum solutions to puzzles against observed player performance, we illustrate how the method can indicate particular problems with how learning is structured within a game. We argue that the method can highlight where major breakdowns occur and yield design insights that can improve the player experience with puzzle games

Fundraising: Keys to the Cashbox

This special fundraising report for performing arts organizations discusses a variety of nonprofit trends. Articles cover the use of social media, competitive fundraising using games, data usage, kickstarter, legal issues in fundraising, and individual giving

FinCraft: Immersive Personalised Persuasive Serious Games for Financial Literacy Among Young Decision-Makers

FinCraft is an open source gaming platform to enhance financial literacy. Research has shown a growing concern for financial literacy and financial decision-making across several age groups and interventionist programme methods. However, very few focused on the youth demographic specifically. Fewer, considered fun and sustainable means of financial literacy enhancement. In a day and age of instant gratification, people gravitate towards familiar and engaging content. In this paper, we posit starting financial literacy enhancement early - during the teenage years of individuals, so secure saving and spending habits can be adopted prior to adult years and responsibility. Through gamification, FinCraft aims to bridge the familiarity and engagement gap that makes financial literacy, an unexplored, significant part of growing up. We propose various conceptual and system artefacts at the intersection of serious games and learning analytics for financial literacy