I don't have any of my work related to this topic online yet, but I will post something, someday, maybe.
I agree that game-ification and tangential devices will not directly improve understanding of a topic, if at all.
I grew up playing many edutainment games which were nothing but boring classroom textbooks, with animated characters and sound effects. Strangely though, the fond memories of some of those characters has, I like to think, gave me positive associations with the actual subject matter, and has led to study of it later in life. More importantly, as you say, it could have diluted my interest or caused a negative association just as well.
I agree that game-ification and tangential devices will not directly improve understanding of a topic, if at all.
I grew up playing many edutainment games which were nothing but boring classroom textbooks, with animated characters and sound effects. Strangely though, the fond memories of some of those characters has, I like to think, gave me positive associations with the actual subject matter, and has led to study of it later in life. More importantly, as you say, it could have diluted my interest or caused a negative association just as well.