Citi: Serious About Games

Gabe Rodrigues, Callie Schadt, Tryone Patterson, Tim Vermilyea

Serious games are an innovative platform to address many of South Africa’s pressing social challenges and also present a valuable opportunity for business sector growth. Informed by interviews with game developers and their business clients, scholars, and attendance at game conferences, we developed four case studies to explore the value proposition of serious games for industry in South Africa. These case studies serve to inform the Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative that supports the growth of the Western Cape Province’s game development industry. Case studies revealed that the game development industry in South Africa needs time and support to mature, and businesses must recognize both a gaming platform’s value and the cost required to develop a successful serious game.

Exploring the Serious Games industry in Cape Town