Science communication in video games: a case study of the game as a resource for scientific dissemination

Abstract

The way in which we consume content has evolved, as scientists have adopted the strategies to disseminate their latest advances. International organisations are promoting a more open and innovative concept of science in which new ways of disseminating scientific knowledge are being sought. Among these media, video games stand out for their recreational and narrative components that allow the player to experience science in first person. Within this media there are diverse ways of presenting scientific findings, either in a pedagogical way through serious games or through pure entertainment with commercial video games. In both formats, interacting with the recreational experience produces a greater degree of empathy and engagement to the knowledge transmitted, which makes video games an ideal resource for popularising science.