Implicit Learning: Exploring Safe Failure Zones Within the Teach – Reinforce – Master Framework
Hanyi ZHANG
Level Design
Implicit Learning: Exploring Safe Failure Zones Within the Teach – Reinforce – Master Framework
My Thesis examined a type of implicit learning known as the“ Safe Failure Zone”— a safe, free environment that follows best practices, which can be used in the reinforcement portion of a game level that uses the Teach-Reinforce-Master framework. My goal was to explore whether a Safe Failure Zone encourages players to practice and understand mechanics in the reinforcement section, and whether players prefer to play through this Safe Failure Zone rather than the Unsafe Failure Zone during reinforcement.
To test this hypothesis, I created two levels:“ Safe Failure Zone” and“ Unsafe Failure Zone” for Half-Life 2. One level incorporates a series of best practices for Safe Failure Zones, while the other level does not. I explored whether implicit learning during the reinforcement stage in Safe Failure Zones could be strengthened by these best practices, as well as which environments most effectively support and encourage players to learn new mechanics. In-game tutorials
are a critical component of game design, as they significantly influence players’ ability to understand core systems and become immersed in the game’ s thematic experience. The“ Safe Failure Zone” provides a space that facilitates autonomous exploration and experiential learning in a low-risk context.
This project spanned one year including research, design, development, playtesting, and data analysis. It allowed me to better understand how in-game tutorial design was developed alongside a reinforced awareness of key considerations in the design of game mechanics and puzzles. I also gained practical experience in conducting playtesting, designing surveys, and performing systematic data analysis. The findings of this study have potential implications for the gaming industry, offering insights into how in-game tutorials can be structured to better support player learning and contributing to better understanding of how developers can design environments that enable players.
70 LEVEL DESIGN