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1. Discuss the issue

  • What do you know about this issue?
  • How do you feel about this issue?
  • Is anyone you know affected by it?
  • Could you (or your friends/family) be affected in the future?

Jot down messages you want to communicate and behaviours you want to promote in relation to the issue.

2. Break down the game

Verbs > messages > morals

  • What verbs are used in the game?
  • Can you think of any other verbs that could have been included in the game?
  • What messages do these verbs communicate?
  • What morals (aka good behaviours ) does the game promote, more or less explicitly?

Mario analysed

Think about the actions the game wants you to take in order to win it. That may give you a hint of its messages and morals. You don't have to agree with those morals.

3. Hack the game

You have an issue and a game.

Redesign the game so that it is about the issue.

Do this by using a different set of verbs which reflect the messages and behaviours your team wants to promote.

Focus on changing the gameplay (the system of rules and the ways players interact with characters and game resources), rather than reskinning the game.

An easy way to force a change of gameplay is by including new verbs, and excluding current verbs.

Your new game may look similar but will play very differently than the original!

Questions to help your new game design

In no particular order:

  • What are the messages you want to communicate and behaviours you want to promote in relation to the issue? What are some verbs that could carry those messages and behaviours?
  • What real-life system could your game simulate? Which parts of the system could you focus on? And which elements of the system would you leave out?
  • Who are the characters involved in the issue? How do they interact with each other? Who are the goodies and the baddies?
  • Who is the player (or who are the players) in your new game? What is/are the player's role(s) in the issue?
  • What role do players play in the game? Is it a power fantasy or a disempowered role, or something in between?
  • What is the goal of the new game?
  • What are the rules of the new game? How do players interact with these rules?
  • Is the new game collaborative or competitive?
  • Is the new game multiplayer or single-player?
  • Is there a story to provide meaning to the game?