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X-Hacker

Challenge:

The nation faces a shortfall of cyber professionals, with approximately 505,000 cyber security positions currently going unfilled (National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2020).

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Solution: Create an Interactive Cyber Strategy video game.

Approach:

We set out to increase learning motivation among students. X-HACKER is a game that takes a novel learning approach by casting players into the adversarial role of a cyber attacker. By learning about the strategies and tools that cyber attackers employ, the game teaches students how they themselves can become effective cyber defenders.

X-HACKER will offer three basic tiers of gameplay, with each tier encompassing multiple levels.

At the first tier of the game, students will learn principles of cyber awareness.
At the second tier of the game, students will discover cyber forensics techniques and principles of ethical hacking.
At the third tier of the game, students will advance their skills enough to utilize scripts from LINUX platforms to conduct some basic defensive and offensive cyber operations.

Over the past 15 years, the Trideum User Experience Group has applied game design patterns to over 50 serious applications, ranging from artillery, radios, C4ISR, intel, and cyber; to civil applications such as healthcare applications and the census. As we design and develop additional X-HACKER levels, we will conduct user research and game usability studies in local schools, using the collected data to make rapid, iterative improvements to the X-HACKER game.

Outcomes:

By introducing cyber terminology to players in a fun context and with purpose, X-Hacker teaches players to think from a different perspective, to imagine the motivations, goals, and methods of actual hackers – and learn the skills necessary to stop them!

The game will progressively teach cyber concepts, starting with cyber awareness in early game levels, cyber forensic skills, and principles of ethical hacking at intermediate levels, and basic cyber operations at the advanced levels. Advanced students will be invited to become game-level editors, helping to develop additional game levels and building a robust X-HACKER gaming community. We will use the game’s content, companion website, and community hub to promote level-editing competitions, DoD-sponsored educational pathways, DoD cyber internships, and DoD cyber career opportunities.

“X-Hacker is a cyber strategy video game that teaches players to think from a hacker’s perspective. It was a finalist in the I/ITSEC Serious Games Contest.”

X-Hacker

Challenge:

Approach:

Outcomes:

“X-Hacker is a cyber strategy video game that teaches players to think from a hacker’s perspective. It was a finalist in the I/ITSEC Serious Games Contest.”

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