BrightGame - Innovative Educational Game Creator

Client
BrightGame (+ADD Strategy)
Year
Work
Web Application Development
BrightGame GameCreator Interface
BrightGame: Custom Serious Game Platform - OpenKit

Project Summary

BrightGame's vision was to create an immersive platform where team leaders, from educators to consultants, could build their own educative, serious learning games (SLGs) and use them to cater to a vast array of learning objectives. OpenKit was entrusted to develop the 'GameCreator', a robust tool which simplifies game design into easy steps. Later into the development cycle, BrightGame made the additional request for a WordPress website, Brightgame.com, from which users could log in, subscribe to, and launch the GameCreator.

Client Overview

+ADD Strategy, headquartered in the UK, specialises in agile innovation for large and complex organisations. They offer a range of services, from innovation management training and consultancy to the implementation of best practices. The firm is recognised for its ability to aid organisations in developing innovation capabilities through practical and agile delivery methods​.

Challenges

Prior to our collaboration, BrightGame recognised the need for a tool that would empower non-technical users to craft educational games tailored to their specific activities and teaching objectives. This required a sophisticated, structured – yet flexible – framework. The challenges were multifaceted: to design a user-centric interface, with a backend that managed the creative process. A key pain point was to build a dynamic data structure which could turn the complexities of each unique SLG into a digestible format, seamlessly retrieved by BrightGame.

Deliverables

1. User-friendly interface

Create an intuitive, easily navigable interface for the GameCreator to minimise the learning curve and enable users to start creating games immediately.

2. Robust backend _system using Firebase

Implement a stable and secure backend that could scale with the platform's growth, opening up a collaborative environment with real-time updates.

3. Seamless Unity game integration

Ensure that games created via the GameCreator could be effortlessly exported to and played within BrightGame.

4. Comprehensive Stripe payment integration

Integrate a full-featured payment processing _system with Stripe that supports multiple subscription tiers, one-time set-up fees, and securely handles sensitive financial data.

Our Approach

Analysis

We began the initial phase of the project by consulting with Paul, BrightGame's founder. This allowed us to clearly understand his goal for this technological solution: to transform the creation of Serious Learning Games into an accessible and intuitive process. We mapped out the user journey, defining key touch points where learning met play, and ensuring that the platform would resonate with its target audience – educators, consultants, and team leaders.

We were then able to determine the technical requirements needed to fulfil his vision. First, we chose to use React to develop the GameCreator. Renowned for its component-based architecture, React guaranteed a responsive and adaptive user experience.

For the backend, we determined that Firebase would be the best service to deliver a cost-effective, scalable solution for real-time database management and hosting, as well as secure authentication.

Once we had finalised the high-level architecture of the project, we began a rapid 4-5 month development cycle to translate this vision into a tangible product.

Design

In order to achieve our goal – a UI that was not only aesthetically pleasing but also simple to use – our developers collaborated closely with BrightGame's design team. Their members' hands-on approach and OpenKit's agile methodology facilitated a dynamic feedback loop, where comments and adjustments were iteratively integrated into the design.

Our developers also decided to integrate Material UI into the React framework. We used their 'theming' system and collection of prebuilt user interface components to craft a visually intuitive and cohesive design throughout the platform.

Wireframing

Wireframing is an essential element of the design and development process: it allows us to create a visual representation of the application's layout, functionality, and user flow before diving into the actual development. This approach helps us ensure that the final product aligns with the client's requirements and provides an optimal user experience.

In this project, we created wireframes for various pages and components of the application, including Learning Objectives, Job Roles, and Learning Impacts. This helped us to clearly define the structure of the information that needed to be entered by the user.

For example, wireframing the Learning Impacts page helped us determine how to effectively present the impact of the learning experience on the users. We incorporated elements like impact statements, reflection questions, and a rating system to gauge the effectiveness of the learning process. This wireframe served as a blueprint for developing a comprehensive and engaging platform.

Throughout the wireframing process, we collaborated closely with the client to gather feedback and make iterative improvements. The wireframes acted as a visual communication tool, allowing stakeholders to provide input and shape the final product. They served as a roadmap for our development team, guiding them in building a robust and intuitive application and reducing the time required to develop.

Example Wireframe 1
Example Wireframe 1
Example Wireframe 2
Example Wireframe 2

Development

We guided our technical development strategy throughout the project by following key these principles:

  • Robust security: we ensured that user data was safeguarded using Firebase security rules which allow for granular access to data. Such security measures and processes are essential when handling sensitive payment-related data, and they align with OpenKit's commitment to ISO 27001 and 9001 compliance.
  • Role management: ensure the platform can allow or restrict access to certain functions (personalised logo design, game competitions, additional game credits, etc.) based on the user's chosen membership tier.

Features of BrightGame

BrightGame Dashboard

1. BrightGame Dashboard

The BrightGame dashboard serves as a centralised hub for users to access and manage their games, collaborate with others, and stay informed about the latest activities within the platform. The clean and modern interface ensures a seamless user experience, allowing users to navigate effortlessly through the various features and functionalities.

Key elements of the dashboard include:

  • The 'My Games' section, providing a visual overview of users' games.
  • The 'Explore Games' section, showcasing games created by different users.
  • A 'Latest Activity' section, displaying real-time updates on recent actions.
  • A user-friendly navigation menu for quick access to essential features.
My Games

2. My Games

The 'My Games' section in the BrightGame dashboard provides users with a comprehensive overview of their created games. This section displays a list of cards containing essential information such as the game title, owner, folder, aerospace, and completion status. Users can easily sort and filter the games based on various criteria. They also have the ability to edit their past games.

Game Creator

3. Game Creator

The Game Creator is a powerful tool that allows users to design and develop educational games tailored to their specific requirements. It provides a step-by-step process for creating games, guiding users through various aspects of game design and configuration.

Key features of the Game Creator include:

  • Game Purpose and Introduction
  • Learning Objectives
  • Player Roles and Character Sets
  • Scenarios and Actions
  • Key Messages and Learning Impacts
  • Free Action Token
  • Game Design and Customisation
  • Character and Action Management
Stripe Payment Integration

4. Stripe Payment Integration

We integrated Stripe, a leading payment gateway, into the BrightGame platform to facilitate seamless and secure payment processing. Our goal was to provide users with a convenient and reliable way to manage their subscriptions and process payments within the application.

Key aspects of the Stripe integration include:

  • Secure API integration and webhook configuration
  • User-friendly subscription management interface
  • Step-by-step process for setting up new subscription plans
  • Integration of Stripe Elements for secure payment information collection
  • Implementation of Stripe's built-in fraud detection
  • Integration of Stripe's invoicing capabilities
WordPress Website

5. WordPress Website

In addition to developing the BrightGame platform, we created a complementary WordPress landing site. This was a late-stage addition that we took on to accommodate our client's request. Our goal was to provide potential users with an overview of the platform, highlight its unique selling points, and showcase real-world case studies to demonstrate its effectiveness.

Key aspects of the WordPress website include:

  • Responsive theme customized to match BrightGame's brand identity
  • Clear and intuitive navigation structure
  • Compelling hero section with prominent calls-to-action
  • Dedicated pages highlighting platform features
  • Inclusion of case studies and success stories
  • SEO optimisation and keyword integration
  • Website loading speed optimisation

Key Successes

OpenKit's rapid development and deployment of the GameCreator not only exceeded the initial project deliverables, but also allowed BrightGame to secure over £100,000 in pre-seed funding. The platform's early success is now leading to a rapid expansion of partnerships, with organisations eager to integrate BrightGame's innovative approach to learning into their training or teaching models.

  • Quick responsiveness to fast-paced changes and updates: Our agile development approach allowed us to swiftly adapt to evolving client requirements and deliver timely updates to the BrightGame platform.
  • Successful parsing of an ambitiously complex data structure: Our team's expertise in data management enabled us to effectively parse and utilise a highly complex data structure, ensuring the platform's ability to load and edit information quickly.
  • Seamless integration of multiple late-stage additions: Despite the challenges posed by late-stage feature requests, we successfully incorporated them into the platform without compromising the overall user experience or system stability.
  • Robust and scalable architecture for optimal performance: By designing and implementing a robust and scalable architecture, we ensured that the BrightGame platform can handle high user loads and deliver optimal performance, even as the user base grows.

Next Steps

Following the intensive development period and launch of the GameCreator, we transitioned the complete project – source code, documentation, and tools – to BrightGame's in-house team. Our commitment to excellence extended beyond delivery, however: we provided post-launch support for bug fixes and minor adjustments, ensuring a smooth transition and the platform's enduring stability and performance.

Technologies Used

  • Frontend: React, Material UI
  • Backend: Firebase, Vercel for hosting, Zapier for automating sign-ups to Engagebay CRM
  • Website: WordPress
  • Subscription management: Stripe
  • UI design and prototyping: Figma

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