Module 8. The video game: Alien Swarm Reactive Drop

Alien Swarm Reactive Drop is a video game developed by Reactive Drop Team, published in 2017 on Steam for Windows. 

This game presents to the player a context of cooperative actions based on progressing in a history campaign where the players will have to go through tons of aliens and outspace scenarios. 

But Alien Swarm Reactive Drop has so much more to offer. On the one hand, there is the distinction of roles within the team of players. With roles such as healer, heavy weapons, technician and coordinator, there are 3 play styles that vary enough to provide a unique and relevant gameplay experience. Along these lines, the healer must take care of healing his teammates and keeping lives high, while the technician will have to solve problems throughout the scenario to unlock access, all while the other two profiles focus on defense and offense. Even each role has exclusive weapons that are also acquired while levelling up in inter-games. It is precisely this level system that gives players a sense of progression that motivates them to continue playing and growing within the game, to unlock new weapons and ways to play. 

On the other hand, the scenarios and the gaming experience that Alien offers are complex. In the sense that many variables must be considered and even taking into account team play as one of them. Since on many occasions, players must coordinate to succeed in a mission. At the same time, the game also offers some parameters that can be modified in the games, in relation to the damage that is received by other players, for example. These parameters thus offer a more difficult game alternative for those players looking for a bigger challenge. 

It is these elements mentioned that in the end define this video game as an ideal tool to stimulate the goal setting soft skill. Well, contrary to what many people believe or may think at first, this game is more complex than it seems. In the first place we should consider the main goal of each of the missions, which also change throughout the plot. This objective will define a path to follow and some sub-objectives within the scenarios. Thus, marking some behaviour guidelines within the game that can become very challenging. On the other hand, each specific of the roles will also have some exclusive objectives, not explicitly defined, but relevant. In this way, each player already begins to have to consider several objectives at the same time. For example, the healer must keep the lives of his teammates high while positioning himself correctly, while advancing around the stage while shooting enemies. 

Finally, temporary objectives could also be considered, the waves of the enemies themselves or the problems presented to the group during the missions. Thus, having to focus not only on the offensive, but also on the defensive, deactivation of some device, movement of the squad, etc. So, in the end the game is stimulating goal setting in various ways. In addition, being a hectic game, changes are made during the games that can alter the initial planning made initially by the group. Which leads to a redesign of the sub-objectives, adding one more layer of stimulation to the soft skill. 

If you want more information about the relationship between Alien Swarm Reactive Drop and more soft skills, click here.