How I Introduce Strategy Game Design
Most kids, even nowadays, have played board games. In fact, more and more I am surprised to find out that more and more have played designer or euro games like Ticket to Ride, Settlers of Catan, Puerto Rico, Carcassonne, and more. Not all have, of course, and I have to introduce them to the differences between familiar games and designer games. This is how I do it.
Edit: I should say, I don't do this anymore. Nowadays, I just start having kids play games, then discussing them after. But if you like this sort of meta approach, you do you.
Step One: Defining What is a Game
This takes about one class period. For this, you'll need the attached PowerPoint, paper and pencils, probably some students.
1. I ask about their previous gaming experience. Whoa. Novel approach! I forget to do things like this sometimes, because I'm so caught up in trying to remember all I want to do during class. You could do this informally, via an entrance card, or any variety of ways, really.
2. I present the Definition of a Game PowerPoint.
Edit: I should say, I don't do this anymore. Nowadays, I just start having kids play games, then discussing them after. But if you like this sort of meta approach, you do you.
Step One: Defining What is a Game
This takes about one class period. For this, you'll need the attached PowerPoint, paper and pencils, probably some students.
1. I ask about their previous gaming experience. Whoa. Novel approach! I forget to do things like this sometimes, because I'm so caught up in trying to remember all I want to do during class. You could do this informally, via an entrance card, or any variety of ways, really.
2. I present the Definition of a Game PowerPoint.
| definition_of_a_game.pptx |
Step Two: Explaining the Essential Elements of Strategy Games
This takes one to two periods. To accompany the PowerPoint, I have at least one board game set up so as I talk about the various components, I can illustrate it live. I suggest Ticket to Ride and Survive! Escape from Atlantis, but plenty of other games can work too. And yes, the link at the end is to one semester of my students' prototypes on www.boardgamegeek.com, but someday you'll replace it with prototypes of your students!
This takes one to two periods. To accompany the PowerPoint, I have at least one board game set up so as I talk about the various components, I can illustrate it live. I suggest Ticket to Ride and Survive! Escape from Atlantis, but plenty of other games can work too. And yes, the link at the end is to one semester of my students' prototypes on www.boardgamegeek.com, but someday you'll replace it with prototypes of your students!
| intro_to_strategy_games.ppt |
I commented on these PPTs in my blog post, Let's Introduce Ourselves...
