Dalila Martins’ doctoral thesis defense took place on May 29, in the Senate Room at the University of Aveiro’s Rectorate. She was the first student to successfully complete the new Doctoral Program in New Media.

Her thesis, titled “Modelo de Design para o Engajamento Ótimo em Jogos Sérios Narrativos, aplicado na área da Saúde Mental” supervised by Professor Nelson Troca Zagalo and researcher Ana Patrícia Silva Oliveira, presents a Design Model conceived as a tool to promote optimal engagement among players. It was designed to be used by game designers or others interested in the design phase of narrative serious games.
The development of the Model was supported by game designers, psychologists, and psychiatrists, as well as game studios, namely: Ninja Theory, Double Fine, and Moonray Studios. In addition to promoting serious games, this research also fostered interdisciplinarity in game design.