Computer Games for Preschoolers: Nintendo's Research and Design Process
Read Computer Games for Preschoolers: Nintendo's Research and Design Process and check the IELTS Reading answers. Designing computer games for young children is a daunting task for game producers, who, for a long time, have concentrated on more "hardcore" game fans. This article chronicles the desi…
Passage preview
Designing computer games for young children is a daunting task for game producers, who, for a long time, have concentrated on more "hardcore" game fans. This article chronicles the design process and research involved in creating the Nintendo DS for preschool gamers.
Vocabulary from this passage
9 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- cognitive abilities noun
The mental processes related to knowledge, attention, memory, and reasoning required to perform complex tasks
The study aimed to assess the range of cognitive abilities possessed by preschoolers during interactive gameplay.
- comprehensive database noun
A complete and detailed collection of structured data covering all necessary aspects of a specific subject
The team hoped that the field research would yield a comprehensive database for future game design.
- ethnography noun
A qualitative research method involving the systematic study and observation of people and cultures in their natural environments
The researchers conducted in-home ethnographies to observe how children naturally interact with handheld gaming devices.
- mechanics noun
The functional rules and internal logic that govern how a system or game operates and responds
The utility lab focused on testing game mechanics to ensure they were sufficiently simple for preschoolers.
- motor coordination noun
The effective interaction and synchronized movement of multiple muscle groups to perform a specific physical task
Older siblings often demonstrate more advanced motor coordination when navigating complex digital interfaces and peripherals.
- parental moderation noun
The act of supervising or limiting a child's activities, particularly regarding screen time and media consumption
The researchers gathered data on varying levels of parental moderation across different urban and suburban households.
- probe verb
To physically or verbally explore, examine, or investigate something deeply to uncover hidden information or feelings
The moderator used open-ended questions to probe the frustrations parents felt when monitoring their children's gaming.
- utility lab noun
A controlled environment specifically designed for testing the practical functionality and user experience of a product
Designers utilized an in-house utility lab to evaluate whether the new software features were engaging.
- yield verb
To produce or provide a natural result, profit, or amount of information from a specific process
The qualitative interviews are expected to yield significant insights into parental attitudes toward digital entertainment.
Answers with explanations
- 1. abilities
The blank requires a noun identifying what preschoolers possess that the researchers wanted to determine. The text explains that the first goal was to understand the children's physical and cognitive **abilities** within the **context** of gameplay. Therefore, 'abilities' fits both grammatically and logically.
- 2. parents
The blank requires a noun referring to the group whose attitudes were investigated. The passage confirms that the moderator would probe the preschooler and their **parents** regarding any feelings and **attitudes** that arose during play. Thus, 'parents' is the correct completion.
- 2-3: NOT GIVEN
2: The blank requires a noun referring to the group whose attitudes were investigated. The passage confirms that the moderator would probe the preschooler and their **parents** regarding any feelings and **attitudes** that arose during play. Thus, 'parents' is the correct completion.
3: The blank requires a plural noun describing the different US locations where the 26 children were observed. The text explicitly mentions conducting the ethnographies in three **markets** across the **United States**. 'Markets' matches exactly.
- 3. markets
The blank requires a plural noun describing the different US locations where the 26 children were observed. The text explicitly mentions conducting the ethnographies in three **markets** across the **United States**. 'Markets' matches exactly.
- 3-4: C
3: The blank requires a plural noun describing the different US locations where the 26 children were observed. The text explicitly mentions conducting the ethnographies in three **markets** across the **United States**. 'Markets' matches exactly.
4: The blank needs a noun for older family members acting as playing peers. The passage states that the researchers considered the effects of **older siblings** on a child's gameplay. The word 'siblings' perfectly aligns with the grammatical need and the context.
- 4. siblings
The blank needs a noun for older family members acting as playing peers. The passage states that the researchers considered the effects of **older siblings** on a child's gameplay. The word 'siblings' perfectly aligns with the grammatical need and the context.
- 5. experienced
The blank requires an adjective classifying a group of players compared to the 'new' players. The passage explains that the sample was divided evenly to understand both **experienced** and **new** users. Therefore, 'experienced' correctly fills the blank.
- 6. NOT GIVEN
The statement claims the research investigated how much parents controlled children's playing specifically **after school**. While the passage confirms that researchers gathered data on the overall **levels of parental moderation**, it never specifies if this control was measured 'after school' or during another specific time. Answer: NOT GIVEN.
- 7. TRUE
The statement claims that researchers were granted access to the subjects' houses. The text confirms this by stating the team conducted **in-home ethnographies**. The term 'in-home' inherently means the researchers were allowed inside the children's houses. Answer: TRUE.
- 8. TRUE
The statement suggests researchers thought the Little Mermaid game would attract preschoolers. The text explicitly supports this, noting they chose the game because it featured characters that **appeal to this young age group**. Answer: TRUE.
- 9. FALSE
The statement claims the Little Mermaid game was **entirely designed** for preschoolers. The passage contradicts this by describing it merely as a game 'on the market' with characters that happen to **appeal** to them, meaning it was a pre-existing general market game used for testing, not one built entirely for them. Answer: FALSE.
- 10. firm
The blank requires a noun identifying what kind of specialist received the design requirements. The passage states the researchers outlined their designing needs and presented the findings to a **firm** specializing in game design. 'Firm' perfectly fits the requirement.
- 11. simplicity
The blank needs a noun representing a quality that was evaluated alongside 'interest' (being engaging). The text notes they tested the games to evaluate both their **simplicity** and whether they were engaging. 'Simplicity' is the exact word required.
- 12. full version
The blank requires a noun phrase detailing what iteration of the game was field-tested. The passage clarifies that they went into a field test with a dozen preschoolers only once a **full version** of the game was ready. Thus, 'full version' fits the blank.
- 13. feedback
The blank needs a noun representing what researchers gathered from the parents. The text explicitly states that they collected parents' **feedback** regarding the game's appropriateness and engagement. 'Feedback' exactly fits the sentence structure and meaning.