| Over the past two decades video and computer | | | | corporate environment and has come a long way to |
| games have become the most dominant form of | | | | bridge the generation gap but some of the heavy |
| entertainment for American youth. It didn't take | | | | hitters, like Hilton, Johnson & Johnson and Alcoa, |
| companies like Leap Frog long to figure out that | | | | are taking things a step further by implementing full |
| educational games would be the wave of the future | | | | blown computer games into their corporate training |
| for kids to learn fundamentals, with that edutainment | | | | curriculum. |
| was born. Now games are used as an educational tool | | | | Simulations have long been recognized as the most |
| for kids and adults alike. Best-selling author Robert | | | | effective way to teach someone to do something, |
| Kiyosaki of Rich Dad Poor Dad fame uses board | | | | whether it is a real life or virtual simulation. Computer |
| games, computer games and is even working on a | | | | games allow companies to create a virtual simulation |
| multi-player web-based game to teach financial | | | | of any aspect of their organization and leverage it into |
| education. What then is the next frontier for the video | | | | a training environment. The benefits to the company |
| game? Believe it or not Corporate America is jumping | | | | and especially the young employees are undeniable. |
| on board. | | | | The Gen Y workforce by in large will be familiar with |
| The workforce is currently being flooded with | | | | the gaming format, they will be engaged which will |
| 20-somethings who grew up on computer games and | | | | ultimately be a much higher transfer of knowledge to |
| have continued playing them well into adulthood. This | | | | on the job skills. Games also give immediate feedback, |
| affinity for interactivity, even if it is with a computer, | | | | another thing Gen Y tends to feed off. These things |
| has made traditional methods of corporate training like | | | | may go a long way in creating loyalty in a group that is |
| seminars and manuals obsolete. This group of young | | | | not known for that attribute. |
| adults, which has been crowned generation Y, | | | | While the initial expense may be high for the creation |
| represents the largest increase to the American | | | | of a corporate game it is surely on par with the cost |
| workforce since the baby-boomers, and they definitely | | | | of traditional methods which require hiring corporate |
| play by different rules. While corporations still have | | | | trainers, having employees travel to training centers |
| standards to uphold when it comes to company policy, | | | | and printing training materials. The difference is |
| for many the delivery method is changing. Traditional | | | | corporate game creation is a one-time expense with a |
| e-learning has become widely accepted in the | | | | measurable return on investment. |