Foraging Games
Foraging Games was started as a funded Vinnova mobility and collaboration project. Foraging Games expands existing research we did back at the Metamakers when exploring Game Jams, Rapdid Game Design and How we can understand the Design Space. Since 2018 when the Metamakers wrapped up a lot happed in AI and within Foraging Games we explore how generative AI systems can support tech development but also help tackle high-dimensional game design spaces.
The project focuses on tools and techniques for teaching computational thinking and design thinking through AI-assisted parametric game design on mobile devices. The core idea is to make game creation more approachable on phones and tablets: people often consume media on these devices, but creating artefacts is still difficult because of interface friction and repetitive editing work.
Our approach combines parametric design with AI support while keeping the human designer in control. Instead of treating generative AI as an autonomous game maker, the project explores how AI can support navigation, reflection, and iteration inside large design spaces.
As part of this work we are exploring Paravida, a playful mobile app for designing casual games, testing ideas, and studying how people create rule systems. Paravida exposes game rules as readable visual parameters so players, students, researchers, and curious game makers can remix mechanics, adjust scoring, movement, difficulty, timing, and win conditions, then immediately play the result. The design and app is an extension of the Wevva app we build as Metamakers.
The project aims to build and evaluate a prototype app where games can be edited directly on the device by changing parameters. The work also includes preliminary steps towards integrating AI assistance, pilot studies at American University and the University of Gothenburg, and dissemination through classes, workshops, and conference papers.
Project details from Vinnova:
- Reference number: 2024-02061
- Coordinator: University of Gothenburg, Department of Applied IT
- Funding from Vinnova: SEK 253,880
- Project duration: October 2024 - May 2026
- Status: finished
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