Aim and Scope

Game data science, defined as the practice of deriving insights from game data through statistical analysis, visualization, machine learning, and data modeling, has revolutionized the multibillion-dollar games industry. The systematic collection and analysis of player telemetry has enabled data-driven decision-making in game design, development, and business operations. However, applying game data science to games for impact—including educational games, serious games, games for health, and games for social change—poses unique challenges that distinguish it from commercial game analytics.

Unlike commercial games, which focus primarily on engagement, retention, and monetization, games for impact require methodologies that capture learning outcomes, behavioral change, skill development, and social impact. Furthermore, the research community studying these games has been constrained by fragmented data access, a lack of standardized telemetry systems, and limited opportunities for replication and meta-analysis. The Open Game Data initiative, led by Gagnon, Harpstead, and Seif El-Nasr, represents a paradigm shift toward open science in game data research. By creating a community around standardized pipelines, open-source data, and a processing pipeline spanning from logging libraries to visualization tools, the initiative enables researchers to access raw gameplay data, analysis code, and game materials from dozens of educational games.

This special issue of IEEE Transactions on Games focuses on disseminating novel methods, tools, and infrastructure for game data science, specifically for games designed to create a positive impact. We seek contributions that extend the theoretical and practical foundations of game data science to address the unique challenges of measuring and understanding impact through game data. The special issue aims to bridge the gap between commercial game analytics practices and the specialized needs of researchers, designers, and practitioners working with games for learning, health, social change, and other impact domains.

The main focus will be on exploring novel data science methods, open data infrastructure, analytical frameworks, and empirical studies that leverage game telemetry to understand and enhance the effectiveness of games for impact. We are particularly interested in work that advances the state of the art in collecting, sharing, analyzing, and deriving actionable insights from open game data.

The scope of this special issue includes, but is not limited to, the following areas:

• Data Infrastructure and Telemetry Systems:

  • Design and implementation of telemetry systems for games for impact
  • Open-source logging libraries and data collection frameworks
  • Scalable data storage and processing pipelines for educational game data
  • Technical architectures for open game data platforms
  • Standards and protocols for game data sharing and interoperability

• Statistical Analysis and Visualization:

  • Statistical methods for analyzing gameplay log data from games for impact
  • Visualization techniques for exploring and communicating patterns in game data
  • Methods for abstracting low-level telemetry into meaningful high-level indicators
  • Temporal analysis and sequence modeling of player behavior
  • Comparative analysis methods across multiple games or player populations

• Machine Learning and Player Modeling:

  • Machine learning approaches for player modeling in educational and serious games
  • Predictive models for learning outcomes, engagement, and skill development
  • Clustering and classification methods for understanding player diversity
  • Reinforcement learning and AI techniques applied to open game datasets
  • Transfer learning across different games for impact

• Methodological Advances:

  • Novel analytical frameworks for assessing learning, behavioral change, and impact through game data
  • Computationally Augmented Qualitative Research
  • Methods for linking gameplay data with external assessments and outcomes
  • Techniques for handling sparse, noisy, or incomplete game telemetry data
  • Approaches for ensuring validity and reliability in game data analysis
  • Ethical frameworks and privacy-preserving methods for game data research

• Open Data Practices and Reproducibility:

  • Case studies of successful open game data initiatives and their impact on research
  • Methodologies for preparing and sharing game datasets for research use
  • Replication studies and meta-analyses leveraging open game datasets
  • Tools and platforms for collaborative analysis of open game data
  • Best practices for documentation, versioning, and long-term preservation of game datasets

• Applications to Design and Development:

  • Data-driven approaches to iterative design of games for impact
  • Real-time analytics and dashboards for educators and facilitators
  • Methods for translating data insights into actionable design recommendations
  • Integration of game data science into the development lifecycle of serious games
  • Comparative studies of design decisions informed by open game data

• Empirical Studies Using Open Data:

  • Large-scale studies leveraging open game datasets to understand learning and engagement
  • Cross-game analyses examining generalizable patterns in player behavior
  • Longitudinal studies tracking player progression and learning trajectories
  • Studies examining the relationship between gameplay patterns and impact outcomes
  • Investigations of demographic, cultural, or contextual factors using open game data

Important Dates:

• Paper submission: January 31, 2027
• Completion of first round of review: March 31, 2027
• Completion of final review: May 31, 2027
• Submission of final manuscripts: June 31, 2027
• Tentative Publication Date : March 2027

Call for Papers:

We invite high quality submissions in one of these formats:

• Full papers (10-14 pages including references and appendix; IEEE/journal fees apply for pages over 10)
• Short papers (6-8 pages including references and appendix; IEEE/journal fees apply for pages over 6)
• Letters (4-5 pages including references; IEEE/journal fees apply for pages over 4)
• Datasets (6-8 pages; following relevant guidelines similar to: https://www.ieee-data.org/author-guide/)
• Immersive Articles (6-14 pages: fees apply for pages over 10 + interactive part as a zip file)

Authors should follow normal IEEE Transactions on Games guidelines for their submissions but identify their papers for this special issue during submission. Extended versions of previously published conference or workshop papers are welcome, provided the journal paper is a significant extension accompanied by a cover letter explaining the additional contribution. See here for author information guidelines and page length limits.

Guest Editors:

• Erik Harpstead, Carnegie Mellon University (Lead Editor)
• David Gagnon, University of Wisconsin, Madison
• Günter Wallner, Johannes Kepler University Linz
• Casper Harteveld, Northeastern University
• Magy Seif El-Nasr, University of California Santa Cruz
• Emily Chen, University of California Santa Cruz