Critical Breakdown of BBC Bitesize KS1 game: Shape Lab

Interaction - A game needs interaction otherwise its not a game, its a puzzle. The players interactions should alter the state of the game.

This game has very basic interaction, the player only has a choice of three shapes and choosing them has very little impact on the state of the game. I think the game lacks interaction, especially in the way there is no feedback on why a chosen shape is incorrect or correct.

Goals - One or more goals are required within the game to give the player something meaningful to achieve, otherwise it becomes meaningless and the player loses motivation to play.

The goal in this game is quite clear; to choose the correct shape, according to the question. Another goal is to complete the five questions and to see the completed creation made by 'Pablo' .

Struggle - Without struggle the game will lack a sense of accomplishment. Too much struggle and the game becomes frustrating but too little and it becomes dull.

The struggle in the game is very limited, since there is no way to fully lose the game. The only struggle created by choosing an incorrect shape is that the game is prolonged.

Game Structure - A structure is required to influence and guide the players within the game.

The game structure in this game is again very simple the correct shapes must be chosen for the game to progress, the structure gives very little feedback to the players, to influence them. feedback which it does give is an animation, which may be entertaining, but doesn't provide any real form of influences to the players choices.

Endogenous Meaning - Objects within the game only retain there meaning within the structure of the game, when they are removed from the game they have no real value. Endogenous meaning helps keep the game fictional.

The game does provide some educational value which can be taken from the game and used in the real world, although accomplishments within the game remain endogenous.

Evaluation of the game
Overall the game is very simple, which is acceptable as it is aimed as an educational game for young children, however I feel that the educational value is lacking, as the game does not tell the player why they are correct or why they are incorrect or doesn't provide any way of influencing the player to make the correct decisions. I think the game is quite poor in educational value because of the lack of teaching in it. I think that the design of the game could be improved to by adding more of a teaching element. To make the game more interactive and give the player reason and motivation to play it would help to keep the player entertained.