Negotiating virtually and face-to-face: First experience from a serious game conducted in person and via smartphone application

Serious games and negotiation simulations are effective tools for teaching sustainable environmental practices. The Phosphorus Negotiation Game (P-Game), originally a face-to-face simulation on sustainable phosphorus fertilizer production, engages participants in evaluating the recovery of radiotoxic uranium during fertilizer production. To increase accessibility, a smartphone version was developed for virtual participation. This study compared self-reported knowledge gains between face-to-face and virtual P-Game participants. It was found that both formats significantly improved understanding of phosphorus and negotiation science, with no major differences in learning outcomes. Knowledge of phosphorus science increased by 92.3% (global face-to-face), 70.7% (Hungarian face-to-face), and 88.4% (online), while negotiation science/practice knowledge rose similarly across all groups. The face-to-face format promoted immediate engagement and motivation, while the online version offered flexibility and deeper reflection. The virtual P-Game received high user satisfaction, with a System Usability Scale score above 80. These findings highlight the virtual format’s potential as an effective complement to traditional face-to-face learning. Further research with larger, more diverse samples is recommended to fully explore its broader educational impact in sustainability contexts.