Game Design
I really enjoyed this week’s game design workshop; I found it engaging and interesting to “create” a game from the ground up. Apart from the actual game aspect it was all worthwhile hearing other people’s perspectives on what college means/ meant (graduation in exactly 2 weeks!) to them. One thing I really liked about the results of the game was the emphasis placed on balance and not only that, but the outcomes of balance. Salen and Zimmerman talk about discernability and integrated play and I think both are exemplified well in our game. Not only do the meters provide constant immediate feedback, but the actions you take within the game alter the future of the game/ the college career. As whimsical as the game became it is still based on strategy creating a sense of agency and involvement. I don’t think I would mind playing this game- if only so I could play the (all- too realistic) cafeteria game.
