In this paper we explore students' engagement in a new media enhanced problem-based learning (PBL) environment and investigate the characteristics of these environments that facilitate learning. We investigated both student experiences using a new media enhanced PBL environment and the specific elements students found most supportive of their learning. 180 sixth graders in a southwestern US city participated in this study. We report that the role of being a scientist, the challenge of solving a complex problem, and the task of saving aliens all sparked students' curiosity and fantasy, promoting engagement. The results of this study confirmed the motivating elements found in the previous research and highlighted problem solving, playing and information processing as main contributing factors to student engagement. (Contains 3 tables and 2 figures.)