Volcanoes in video games: the portrayal of volcanoes in commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) video games and their learning potential

Abstract

Abstract. Volcanoes are a very common staple in mainstream video games. Particularly within the action–adventure genres, entire missions (e.g. Monster Hunter: Generation Ultimate, 2018) or even full storylines (e.g. Spyro: The Reignited Trilogy, 2018) can require players to traverse an active volcano. With modern advancements in video game capabilities and graphics, many of these volcanic regions contain a lot of detail. Most video games nowadays have gameplay times in excess of 50 h. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017), for example, brags a minimum of 60 h to complete. Therefore, players can spend a substantial amount of time immersed within the detailed graphics and unknowingly learn about volcanic traits while playing. If these details are factually accurate to what is observed in real-world volcanic systems, then video games can prove to be a powerful learning tool. However, inaccurate representations could instil a false understanding in thousands of players worldwide. Therefore, it is important to assess the accuracies of volcanology portrayed in mainstream video games and consider whether they can have an educational impact on the general public playing such games or whether these volcanic details are overlooked by players as they focus solely on the entertainment factor provided. We have therefore reviewed several popular commercial video games that contain volcanic aspects and evaluated how realistic said aspects are when compared to real-world examples. It was found that all the games reviewed had a combination of accurate and inaccurate volcanic features and each would vary from game to game. The visual aesthetics of these features are usually very realistic, including lava, ash fall and lahars. However, the inaccuracies or lack of representation of hazards that come with such features, such as ash-related breathing problems or severe burns from contact with molten lava, could have great negative impacts on a player's understanding of these deadly events. With further investigations assessing the direct impact on the general public, there is an opportunity to correctly assess how to incorporate the use of mainstream video games in educational systems and outreach.

The potential for using video games to teach geoscience: learning about the geology and geomorphology of Hokkaido (Japan) from playing Pokémon Legends: Arceus

“…Authors identified geological and geomorphological features, including active volcanoes, crater lakes, and peninsulas, which were tied to key moments within the game's main narrative. This approach is inspired by McGowan and Scarlett (2021), where geoscientific features are identified in popular commercial video games and then compared to realworld examples. Features and areas that are a necessity for progression, therefore guaranteeing player interaction, are particularly addressed.…”

“…Recent work by Hut et al (2019), McGowan and Scarlett (2021), and Clements et al (2022) illustrates how popular commercial games (including Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Minecraft) could be used as a form of geoscience communication to promote and educate the wider public, covering topics such as volcanology and palaeontology. If effectively used, commercial video games can become a powerful tool in educational settings and at outreach events, to stimulate geoscientific education and engagement in students.…”

“…This paper intends to be used as an example -in addition to the other "geo-gaming" literature -to highlight how commercial video games could be applied in an educational setting (facilitated learning) and encourage the player's own self-learning (tangential learning; Floyd and Portnow, 2008;Brown et al, 2014) of geoscientific topics (e.g. McGowan and Scarlett, 2021;Clements et al, 2022).…”

“…This is a fictional location without a real-world equivalent in Hokkaido. Firespit Island is a large volcanic edifice, likely to be a stratovolcano due to its steep, conical slopes and tectonic setting and this being the most common type of video game volcano (McGowan and Scarlett, 2021). It has a distinguishable crater rim that is taller in the east, presumably the product of a violent explosive eruption that destroyed the rest of the cone (Fig.…”

“…Lava pours out of the vent of a new volcanic cone within the centre of the collapsed edifice (Fig. 5b), which is one of the most common volcanic attributes seen in video games (McGowan and Scarlett, 2021). Post-collapse volcanism is common in volcanoes around the world, including Anak Krakatoa (Indonesia), Mt St Helens (United States), Soufrière Hills (Montserrat), and Bezymianny (Russia) (Girina, 2013;Watt et al, 2012;Watt, 2019).…”