Abstract
This study investigates the impact of photorealistic/cartoon-like representations of non-player characters on students' perception of an educational simulation. It is a comparative study, with within-subject design, that compares two different versions of an educational simulation, Czechoslovakia 38-89.
In a laboratory study involving 48 Czech high school students (M=16, F=32) with different study backgrounds, we compared two versions of Czechoslovakia 38-89: photorealistic and cartoon-like versions. The simulation's content and its length were identical in all other respects.
The results indicate that the vast majority of students preferred the photorealistic version; both for use at school and at home. They evaluated the photorealistic version as being more authentic and attractive.
They also considered the photorealistic version to be a better source of information about Czechoslovak contemporary history.