Simulating the software engineering interview process using a decision-based serious computer game

Unfortunately, the stereotype of a software engineer is one who spends his or her whole day in a cubicle programming. In this paper, we present an interactive, decision-based game to help students ranging from middle school to college juniors learn about the interview process in the requirements analysis phase of the software engineering life cycle. The important aspect of our game is that the student does not actually interview personnel for a real software system, which could be an abstract and intimidating process. Instead, the student interviews an assembled panel for a hypothetical scenario, which is appealing especially to a younger audience. The assembled panel lies, deceives and contradict one another in order to promote the same strategies that would be used in a real software requirements elicitation. The interview process is emphasized in our game, as this is the most common technique used in requirements elicitation.