MSc Serious Games & Virtual Reality School of Innovation & Technology
Linhao Ye
This is Linhao Ye, a passionate and serious game designer and developer from China. I am passionate about exploring the connection between games and learning, and I enjoy making some interesting little games by myself 😀
Chengyu(Chinese idiom) present particular challenges for L2 learners due to their semantic opacity, irregular syntax, and reliance on cultural allusions. My experience as a volunteer at the Confucius Institute at the University of Glasgow helped me gain a deeper understanding of this. My dissertation investigates the potential of a serious tabletop game to enhance the acquisition of chengyu among adult learners of Chinese as a Foreign Language.
In this page you will find varies serious games I have created, most of them can be download from: https://yelinhao.itch.io/. Have some fun! :p
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me with the links provided below.
36StratagemsEDU——Using Serious table-top game to enhance Chinese Idiom acquisition
This dissertation investigates the potential of a serious tabletop game to enhance the acquisition of Chinese idioms (chengyu) among adult learners of Chinese as a Foreign Language (CFL). Chengyu present particular challenges for L2 learners due to their semantic opacity, irregular syntax, and reliance on cultural allusions. To address this, a serious game was designed by adapting the traditional strategy game The Thirty-Six Stratagems into an educational format, incorporating idiom-based cards and rule modifications grounded in the LM–GM framework. A mixed-methods evaluation was conducted with 14 participants, divided into a flashcard control group and a game-based experimental group. Data collection combined pre-, post-, and delayed-tests of idiom comprehension, Likert-scale surveys based on Keller’s ARCS model, and semi-structured interviews.
Findings suggest that the game significantly improved learners’ comprehension of most idioms, with participants demonstrating stronger retention and deeper engagement compared to pre-test. Participants reported high levels of attention, confidence, and satisfaction, underscoring the motivational advantages of the game-based approach. Although flashcards showed slightly higher immediate test scores, their learning effects decayed more rapidly, whereas gameplay fostered memorable, embodied experiences likely to support long-term retention.
This study highlights the promise of serious games in idiom pedagogy by aligning game mechanics with learning mechanics. It provides both empirical evidence and design recommendations for integrating serious tabletop games into CFL instruction, contributing to the broader field of game-based language learning.
BirdSong Recorder
A First-Person Exploration Simulation Game. Players are simulated as bird recorders, stepping into the role of a bird enthusiast immersed in a serene, nature-filled world. Through careful observation and attentive listening, they explore diverse environments to discover, identify, and document a wide variety of bird species.
Liyi Chen: Game Design Lead, Sound designer;
Linhao Ye: Sound Design Lead, Game programmer;
Paul O’Donnell: Game Programming Lead.
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ARHanzi
English-speaking learners of Chinese often encounter challenges when learning and memorizing Chinese characters. 🙁
So I developed an AR application to show a useful principle of Pictophonetic Characters, that Radicals in a Chinese character in a character provide a hint for pronunciation or indicate meaning. 😀
[3D modeling & Animation] Oriental Hall
This project aims to create a hall in the ancient oriental style, where the owner, a general, would discuss war plans with his staff. The overall architectural structure references the 轩(xuān) and 阁(gé). They are typical ancient Chinese architecture, known for their styles that opening on all sides and built on high platforms. The whole work is done by 3Ds Max.
