IDIA Research Spotlight: James Casey

James Casey is the interim director of the Virginia Serious Game Institute (VSGI) at the Computer Game Design program at George Mason University. As interim director, James participates, engages, and mentors with all of the incubated companies at the VSGI and serves as principal investigator on applied research projects initiated at the VSGI.  

As an assistant professor in the Computer Game Design program, James teaches and oversees the Senior Capstone Synthesis classes. Prior to joining George Mason University, James has over 12 years of experience developing video games. He has extensive knowledge in the production and live management of games working on titles from Mythic Entertainment, BioWare, EA, and EA Mobile.  

The IDIA spoke with Casey about the VSGI. Responses have been edited. 

___________________________________________________________________ 
Tell us about your research. 

The Virginia Serious Game Institute (VSGI) is designed around three tenets: outreach, incubation, and applied research.  In our applied research role, we tend to work with individuals, companies, and the government in researching how to use gaming technologies, gamification, and the medium of games to promote and elevate their goals, whether those are learning, education, simulation, awareness, or any other.  In addition, we work with them to develop the solutions designed as applicable thanks to our pipeline of talent in our students, alumni, and faculty as well as companies that reside in said incubator. 

What kinds of projects are funded?  

We’ve worked with a multitude of partners and the projects have ranged the gamut from traditional research (where the output was a white paper) to producing prototypes of solutions for production.  As an example, for the Air Force and FEMA we worked on white papers; for the Air Force we researched and wrote about how to use VR/AR technologies in their online training program; for FEMA we examined and analyzed how they could use the innovative medium of games as a way to provide information and support to customers that needed or had flood insurance.   

We have also worked with multiple sources to develop solutions with diverse partners like the Department of State, the Army, and other local companies/contractors.  As an example, for the Department of State we developed a mock virtual embassy that would allow up to 48 people to train and respond to security issues as if they were working inside the actual embassy.  For the Army, we worked on a proof-of-concept augmented reality medical training app that would work on your phone and show someone how to perform procedures on real people or mannequins and eventually be able to assess the user when performing the same procedures. 

How do your projects impact other disciplines?      

The thing about ‘serious games’ is that gaming technologies, processes, and psychology are all about visualization and engagement and these impact almost every discipline.  Utilizing the same tools and technologies as games, people are creating advanced and immersive simulations but, also, they are being used more and more in the creation of other content, from websites to television to movies.  The things our institute promotes and researches can affect almost any discipline as everyone has need of visualization, engagement, learning, training, simulation, etc. 

What projects would you like to be reached out to for potential collaborations?  

We are very open to talking to any discipline about their potential needs for visualization, simulation, gamification, research, etc.  As noted above, we offer a pipeline of talent that utilizes cutting edge technologies that are becoming more and more the norm in most disciplines. 

What keywords describe your research?    

Serious Games, Simulation, Training, Applied Research, Education, Gamification, VR/AR/MR, AI/ML  

How does your research help bring the Mason community together?  

Everyone loves games, right?  But honestly, everyone wants to be more effective at what they do and the skills and research we can help with do that by utilizing what games and their technologies do best: engagement and immersion. 

How can you be reached?  

Email: Jcasey9@gmu.edu  

Website: vsgi.gmu.edu (our social media links are on the website)