Bridging learning and play: the digital game experience

Digital games provide rich environments where players can experiment choice, expression, creativity, success, or failure. In the last decade, digital games have been used to enhance learning settings both in school and in the workplace. However, Digital Educational Games (DEGs) have not matched the massive success of Entertaining Games (EGs). Both educational and entertainment games are constructed on set of rules that give players the opportunity to try new things, to develop strategies, and to be entertained by the play experience. What make EGs so successful among players? How should DEGs be constructed, in order to attract and engage players? How can fun and learning be balanced when constructing a DEGs? Should humour and curiosity be used as key motivational triggers? The authors address these questions and provide insights into the design challenges and the development processes of a DEG for foreign language learning.