The issues at play: Examining the learning potential in advergames and nutritional games for children

Advergames - digital games with advertising embedded in them developed to promote brands - sit at the intersection of marketing, entertainment, and education. While a relatively recent phenomenon, they have already generated considerable concern, particularly when it comes to the marketing of children's foods. In this thesis, I explore whether or not advergames can be used to evaluate and improve children's nutritional knowledge. Building on game study theories of flow and persuasive games, this study used a custom-built game focused on the promotion of healthy foods, along with pre and post intervention interviews to explore insights about the potential of advergames to contribute to healthy eating preferences. Data from this exploratory study suggest that health based advergames could serve as an intervention tool that both assesses children's knowledge about healthy foods and educates children about nutrition. However, findings also highlight that nutritional knowledge does not necessarily translate into healthier decision making.