Abstract: This paper presents an overview of collaborative work that together addresses the need for research to examine the variety of factors that influence educational games and learning. It shows how an interdisciplinary team is examining learning and engagement in various game spaces by exploring the interplay between content area, interface, and design, raising important questions as to how these factors influence and interact with one another to alter the learning/play experience. The result is an interdisciplinary dialogue that asks larger questions about the ways in which content can be played, and how the changing landscape of digital games and virtual worlds impacts formal and informal education.