W3: Games for Frustration and Change

Description

Part 1: One of the most interesting aspects of games is the way they create enjoyable frustration in the player. We play the same level over and over, get mad, scream, raise our heart rate, and yet keep playing. Why do we like frustrating things?

Conversely, games have been thought of in the last 10 or so years as incredible mediums for social change. Practitioners believe games could solve everything from the water crisis to racism. Play a games for change game, and then discuss if you thought the game was “fun.” Make sure to comment on how frustrating the game was, via Melhart’s theory. Did the game accomplish what it set out to? Would you play again?

Then write a paragraph discussing the making your own board game PowerPoint. What stood out to you? Which pieces were surprising or especially useful?

Resources:

Home – Games for Change Melhart Frustration (attached) Power Point- The process of making your own board game (attached)

Part 2:

This week I’ve linked two different podcasts. One is about designing for disability and one is about White protagonism in games. This is a podcast I produce with another Game Studies professor, where we review important articles in Game Studies. Sometimes it is easier to listen to a podcast than read a dense, academic articles, so for this week I’m only requiring you to listen. 

Pick one of the podcasts and listen to it. Then reflect on the content. Was it interesting? Useful? Scary? Confusing? Make sense? Connect to your own experience gaming and any previous material we’ve covered in the course.