ELICITING AND EVALUATING TEAMWORK WITHIN A MULTI-PLAYER GAME-BASED TRAINING ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Modern multi-player computer games (or multi-player games) show great potential for enabling distributed training of a variety of skills, including effective teamwork, in a variety of simulated environments. We explored the utility of a fantasy-based multi-player game for training teamwork skills. Forty members of the United States Army Infantry participated in the study. The lessons learned indicate that multi-player game-based training systems can elicit teamwork behaviors and provide a viable environment in which those behaviors may be practiced and improved. Our methodology, design, exercise, and results are discussed. 1.