Filament Games is an American educational video game developer based in Madison, Wisconsin and founded in 2005 by partners Daniel White, Daniel Norton, and Alexander Stone. It is a full-service digital studio that develops learning games on a for-hire basis.

Filament Games
Company typePrivate
IndustryVideo games
Founded2005; 19 years ago (2005)
FounderDaniel White
Daniel Norton
Alexander Stone
Headquarters,
WebsiteOfficial website

Philosophy

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Filament's design philosophy based on the scholarship of Kurt Squire,[1] Constance Steinkuehler, and James Paul Gee.[2] Filament is also an affiliate of the annual Games Learning and Society Conference.

History

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The company received national recognition for their series of civics games launched by Sandra Day O'Connor for iCivics, her civics-education initiative.[3] These games include Do I Have a Right?, Executive Command, and Liberty Belle's Immigration Nation. Filament has also developed games with partners such as Meta,[4] the Smithsonian Science Education Center,[5] and Columbia University.[6]

Development History

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Game Title Release Year Subject Matter Description Platform Partner Notes
RoboCo 2022 Robotics, Engineering A STEM and robotics sandbox game about building, controlling, and automating robots. PC, VR N/A (first-party) RoboCo was nominated as a finalist in the 2017 I/ITSEC Serious Games Showcase and Challenge.[7][8]
Saving Lives! 2018 Healthcare Healthcare learning game for medical professionals that teaches American Heart Association best practices for CPR. iOS Tablets AppClinic Archived 20 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine Awarded a gold medal for excellence by the 2018 International Serious Play Awards Program.[9][10]
JA Titan 2017 Finance Financial literacy and business administration learning game for adolescent learners. PC, Web Browser Junior Achievement
VR Explorations 2017 Various Box set of printed books and immersive VR learning apps for consumers. Cardboard VR (Android, iOS) Publications International, Ltd.
Square Panda (multiple titles) 2016 Language Arts Custom hardware-integrated phonetics and reading games for young learners. Tablets Square Panda
MSI Retail Sim 2015 Retail Management Fundamentals Management fundamentals training game for adult learners in retail professions. Web Browser, Tablets McKinsey Social Initiative
Inspire Science (multiple titles) 2015 Science Curriculum-aligned science learning games for young learners. Tablets, Web Browser McGraw Hill Education Morphy was nominated for Best Mobile Sites and Apps - Family and Kids in the 20th Annual Webby Awards (2016).[11][12] Aquation: The Freshwater Access Game was nominated for Best Public Service and Activism Game in the 22nd Annual Webby Awards (2018).[13][14]
mPower Math 2015 Math Math learning games that teach critical thinking and problem-solving for young learners. iOS Tablets, Web Browser TVOntario Awarded a silver medal for excellence by the 2017 International Serious Play Awards Program.[15][16] The suite of games have been played by over 46,000 K-6 learners across Ontario.[17]
That's Your Right! 2014 Civics, American Government Browser-based multiplayer card game that teaches the Bill of Rights. Web Browser Annenberg Classroom Named a Best Gameplay Finalist by the 2015 Games For Change Awards.[18][19]
Smithsonian Science (multiple titles) Various Science, Language Arts Curriculum-aligned science learning games for young learners. Tablets, Web Browser Smithsonian Science Education Center
iCivics (multiple titles) Various Civics Nationally recognized game-based learning platform and games for teaching civics. Tablets, Web Browser iCivics

References

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  1. ^ FGP2-2: Kurt Squire, retrieved 14 February 2023
  2. ^ "What Video Games Like Doom Teach Us About Learning, According to GBL Guru James Paul Gee - EdSurge News". EdSurge. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  3. ^ Toppo, Greg. "Sandra Day O'Connor's post-court legacy: Civics games". USA TODAY. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  4. ^ Conklin, Aaron R. (6 December 2018). "Madison levels up". Isthmus | Madison, Wisconsin. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Serious Games: Conservation and Community". New Security Beat. 9 May 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  6. ^ "'Beats Empire' simulation game moves hip-hop from fiction to online learning tool for middle school". School of Education. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  7. ^ "2017 SGS&C Finalists and Winners – SGS&C". sgschallenge.com. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Congratulations 2017 Serious Games Showcase & Challenge Finalists!". www.seriousgamemarket.com. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  9. ^ "Corporate, Healthcare, Government, Museum Games for Use in Training Win Awards in Annual Serious Play Competition". seriousplayconf.com. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  10. ^ "AppClinic's Saving Lives! Wins Gold Medal at 2018 Serious Play Conference". PRWeb. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  11. ^ "Morphy! | The Webby Awards". www.webbyawards.com. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  12. ^ "Smithsonian Science Education Center Honored for "Best Mobile Sites & Apps" in the 20th Annual Webby Awards | Newsdesk". newsdesk.si.edu. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  13. ^ "Aquation: The Freshwater Access Game | The Webby Awards". Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  14. ^ "Smithsonian Science Education Center Nominated For Best Public Service and Activism Game In the 22nd Annual Webby Awards". PRWeb. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  15. ^ "Nine Games Earn Gold in the 2017 International Serious Play Awards". seriousplayconf.com. Archived from the original on 9 October 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  16. ^ "2017 Award Winners – Serious Play Conference". seriousplayconf.com. Archived from the original on 28 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  17. ^ "TVO receives international acclaim for mPower digital learning math games". TVO. 19 June 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  18. ^ "2015 Games for Change Awards nominees announced | Games For Change". www.gamesforchange.org. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  19. ^ "Games for Change 2015 award finalists include Never Alone, This War of Mine, Bounden". Polygon. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
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