Termópolis - Deserto de Sadhi: development of a Role-Playing Game (RPG) focused on teaching thermodynamics

Thermodynamics is tied to the study of various forms of energy and their respective transformations, serving as a field of study that permeates several other areas of knowledge. Despite its undeniable importance for understanding everyday phenomena, students show little interest in learning about the subject. Therefore, with the aim of making the teaching and learning process of classical thermodynamics more playful and motivating, this study presents the development of a prototype of an innovative serious game in the format of a tabletop narrative game or RPG (Role Playing Game). The research was conducted using a combination of the Design Science Research and Design Thinking methods, with a focus on the solution space. The game development proved to be a complex process, involving the creation of an entire game universe with its own story and narrative, in addition to the design of all its elements, such as the board, cards and game book. The development stages were organized into ideation, artifact prototyping, and game evaluation. The ideation phase aligned audience needs with educational objectives, using a cartoonish Steampunk aesthetic to merge science and playfulness, creating a visually cohesive and appealing environment. In prototyping, the materialization of the ideas in cards, maps and gamebook highlighted the importance of interactive design and validation of aesthetics and mechanics. Finally, in the game evaluation phase, extremely positive feedback was observed from users who participated in prototype testing, emphasizing aspects such as the design of game elements, the developed universe and narrative, as well as the interaction facilitated by the game. Despite promising results, further adjustments, improvements, and additional testing are still needed to expand its audience and attract new players, especially from the exact and natural sciences.