Assignment 1 for 482
Blog Assignment #1
Set: Set is arguably the least social game we played. It simply consists of individual brains attempting to narrow down possible combos as quickly as possible. There really is no eye-contact or social interaction until Set is yelled.
Boggle: Boggle was really the first game we played that began to make the social aspect enjoyable, if not primary. Although not as clearly a party game as Scattergories or Cranium, the reading of word lists at the end of each round did reveal the logical approach of each individual player. This led to several friendly arguments and plenty of laughter.
Scattergories: Scattergories, like boggle, was very individualistic while the game was being played. However, because the mechanics of forming words was not as rigid as boggle, the post-game activities really began to reveal personal traits, habits, and humor. This is a very classic social game, and is even more enjoyable when you add in teams.
Cranium: As Patricia noted, Cranium is truly the most social of the games we played. The mechanics of the game are really structured to force people into revealing their own personal traits, attitudes, and skill. This leads to very enjoyable and often embarrassing game-play.
Puzzle Pirates: Puzzle Pirates initially appears very similar, regarding its social elements, to the games we played in class during the previous week. The individual player, similar to Set, or Scattergories, is responsible for his/her own ability to solve a puzzle. However, Puzzle Pirates allows this individual agenda to play a part in the effort of the entire team (the ship’s crew). Thus, the social dynamic is built on team expectations. You are expected to succeed at your individual task for the success of the mission. This structure requires a leadership role that can lead to both player hostility and companionship.
The Kingdom of Loathing: This game, although witty and entertaining because of its very simple aesthetic, does not create a very captivating social dynamic. Although the game offers a clan based community system, it lacks a detailed level of teamwork that would really push the social dynamic. The game seems mostly geared towards the single-player experience.