Ames' syllabi

How does Flanagan’s definition of a game differ from Crawford’s and Salen & Zimmerman’s?
Flanagan emphasizes games as cultural and political systems that can critique society, while Crawford focuses on games as interactive conflict and Salen & Zimmerman define games more structurally as rule-based systems with quantifiable outcomes.

What is an activist game?
An activist game is designed to provoke awareness, critique power structures, or inspire social or political change rather than just entertain.

What other games feature “perfect information”?
Games like checkers, tic-tac-toe, Connect Four, and Othello also use perfect information, since all players can see the entire game state at all times.

Why might chance or gambling games hold spiritual or religious importance to ancient cultures?
Ancient cultures often viewed chance as a way to communicate with gods or fate, making gambling games tools for divination, ritual, or understanding cosmic order.

When was the earliest battle between government/religious groups and games, and what modern games have been banned or demonized?
Conflicts date back to ancient China and medieval Europe, where games were seen as immoral or distracting; modern examples include bans on Dungeons & Dragons, violent video games, and certain online games.

What is a fox game, and what is a modern example?
A fox game is an asymmetric game where one side is outnumbered but more powerful; a modern example is Scotland Yard or multiplayer stealth games like Dead by Daylight.

What was the purpose of The Mansion of Happiness?
The game was designed to teach Christian morality by rewarding virtue and punishing vice, reinforcing 19th-century religious values.

Why do Fluxus and Surrealist artists play games, and why did Surrealists believe games could help everyone?
They used games to disrupt logic, authorship, and control; Surrealists believed games could unlock creativity and access the unconscious for all players.

How can changes in play signal profound changes in games, and how was pinball reskinned during WWII?
Shifts in themes and mechanics reflect cultural priorities; during WWII, pinball machines were reskinned with patriotic and military imagery to support nationalism.

What statements did Fluxus artists make by reskinning Monopoly and ping pong?
They critiqued capitalism, competition, and rigid rules by turning familiar games into absurd, participatory, or anti-commercial experiences.

How are artists like Duchamp, Ono, and Catlow using war games?
They reinterpret war games to critique conflict, power, and strategy, often emphasizing peace, cooperation, or the human cost of war.

Why is player agency important in a critical or serious game?
Agency allows players to meaningfully engage with ideas, reflect on consequences, and internalize the game’s critique rather than passively receiving a message.

Gris

1. What made the experience fun or not? The metaphors you had to answer along the way to figure out the meaning of the game.
2. What is the motivating factor to get or keep players playing? I feel like the lack of direction helps because its about the mystery of what will happen next.
3. Is the game persuasive, and what is it trying to get you to do outside of the game? It is trying to help you experience grief and how to cut yourself some slack.
4. What is the game’s metaphor and which of the game’s mechanics standout? The game is a metaphor for moving through stages of grief, with color and sound. Mechanics that standout include the gradual unlocking of movement abilities and the return of color to the world.
5. How does the gameplay make you feel? Who does the game make you feel empathy for? The game makes me feel broken and gradually gives me strength. The game makes me feel empath for the girl.
6. Is the game an activist game? If so what does the game play advocate for? Yes it advocates for mental illness and grief.
7. Describe the game in 3 sentences or in the form of a haiku. A silent world breaks apart as color slowly returns. Movement replaces numbness, and pain becomes progress. Healing is not winning it is continuing.

Dumb Ways to Die

1. What made the experience fun or not? The easiness of the game and the customization of your character
2. What is the motivating factor to get or keep players playing? To get a higher score.
3. Is the game persuasive, and what is it trying to get you to do outside of the game? Yes, the game is trying to prevent you from doing dumb things that will kill you.
4. What is the game’s metaphor and which of the game’s mechanics standout? The metaphor is to dont die in a dumb way and the mechanics that standout are the score and attempting to stay alive as the game gets faster.
5. How does the gameplay make you feel? Who does the game make you feel empathy for? The game gives me a sense of irony because they made a fun game out of ways you could die. The game makes me feel empathy for the three guys when they fall into their grave for every mistake I made.
6. Is the game an activist game? If so what does the game play advocate for? Yes it advocates for the people who don’t have the common sense skill and end up dying becasue of it.
7. Describe the game in 3 sentences or in the form of a haiku. do not kill yourself. survive each scenario. increase your high score.

Detroit: Become Human

1. What made the experience fun or not? The dramatics of the game and the tough decisions you need to make.
2. What is the motivating factor to get or keep players playing? The game switches through three characters and the suspense keeps you on your toes.
3. Is the game persuasive, and what is it trying to get you to do outside of the game? Yes the game is trying to show real world issues and how we can have an impact on it.
4. What is the game’s metaphor and which of the game’s mechanics standout? The android represents social groups and how they make impacts on the world. Mechanics that stand out is branching narratives, choices, and stories.
5. How does the gameplay make you feel? Who does the game make you feel empathy for? The gameplay is suspenseful and dramatic. It makes me feel empathy for the androids and side characters who are negatively affected.
6. Is the game an activist game? If so what does the game play advocate for? Yes it advocated for empathy, equality, and nonviolence.
7. Describe the game in 3 sentences or in the form of a haiku. The game places the player in control of androids whose survival depends on moral choices. Every decision reshapes the story and forces reflection on power and prejudice. The game asks whether freedom is earned through obedience or resistance.

OuterWorlds

1. What made the experience fun or not? It critiques unchecked capitalism and corporate control, causing players to question authority, labor exploitation, and profit driven systems in the real world.
2. What is the motivating factor to get or keep players playing? The humor and meaningful choices make it fun.
3. Is the game persuasive, and what is it trying to get you to do outside of the game? Player choice and consequence are the main motivators, as decisions visibly affect characters, factions, and the world’s outcome.
4. What is the game’s metaphor and which of the game’s mechanics standout? The game is a metaphor for late-stage capitalism in a sci-fi colony, with standout mechanics including branching dialogue, faction reputation, and choice-driven storytelling.
5. How does the gameplay make you feel? Who does the game make you feel empathy for? The gameplay often feels darkly humorous but morally tense, building empathy for exploited workers, colonists, and individuals crushed by corporate systems.
6. Is the game an activist game? If so what does the game play advocate for? Yes, it advocates for ethical responsibility, worker dignity, and resistance to dehumanizing corporate power.
7. Describe the game in 3 sentences or in the form of a haiku. Corporate stars burn bright. Choices cut through profit lies. Freedom costs something

Fake It to Make It

1. What made the experience fun or not? The game isn’t “fun” in a traditional way, but it’s engaging because it feels fast-paced and tense. The discomfort is intentional and keeps you thinking.
2. What is the motivating factor to get or keep players playing? The desire to win elections and see how far misinformation can be pushed motivates players. Curiosity about the consequences of your choices keeps you going.
3. Is the game persuasive, and what is it trying to get you to do outside of the game? Yes, it aims to make players more critical of political media. Outside the game, it encourages skepticism toward news, social media, and political messaging.
4. What is the game’s metaphor and which of the game’s mechanics standout? The game is a metaphor for modern political manipulation and “spin culture.” The standout mechanics are creating fake news, targeting voter groups, and watching public opinion shift.
5. How does the gameplay make you feel? Who does the game make you feel empathy for? The gameplay can feel uncomfortable, guilty, and eye opening. It creates empathy for voters who are easily manipulated by misinformation.
6. Is the game an activist game? If so what does the game play advocate for? Yes, it’s an activist game. It advocates for media literacy, ethical politics, and awareness of how misinformation undermines democracy.
7. Describe the game in 3 sentences or in the form of a haiku. This game puts you in the role of a political manipulator spreading misinformation to win elections. The game reveals how easily public opinion can be influenced through targeted media. It ultimately warns players about the real-world dangers of fake news and propaganda.

Cards Against Calamity

1. What made the experience fun or not? The game is fun because it uses dark humor and absurd card combinations to make heavy topics feel approachable, but it can feel uncomfortable if players aren’t into satire or social critique.
2. What is the motivating factor to get or keep players playing? Players are motivated by shock value, humor, and social interaction, trying to outdo each other with the most clever or outrageous card combinations.
3. Is the game persuasive, and what is it trying to get you to do outside of the game? Yes, it’s persuasive in a subtle way. It encourages players to reflect on real-world disasters, systems of power, and social inequalities rather than prompting a specific action like buying something.
4. What is the game’s metaphor and which of the game’s mechanics standout? The metaphor is that global crises are often reduced to simplified, absurd narratives. The standout mechanic is card pairing, which exposes how easily complex tragedies can be trivialized or reframed.
5. How does the gameplay make you feel? Who does the game make you feel empathy for? The game creates a mix of amusement and discomfort, pushing players to laugh while recognizing serious consequences. It fosters empathy for people affected by disasters and systemic failures.
6. Is the game an activist game? If so what does the game play advocate for? Yes, it functions as an activist game by critiquing media framing, capitalism, and indifference toward suffering, advocating for awareness and critical thinking rather than passive consumption.
7. Describe the game in 3 sentences or in the form of a haiku. Laughter meets disaster. Cards reveal careless systems. Jokes that leave a mark

Cast Your Vote

1. What made the experience fun or not? The game is engaging because it’s fast, choice-driven, and immediately shows the consequences of your decisions. It isn’t traditionally fun though, the seriousness and pressure can feel stressful rather than entertaining.
2. What is the motivating factor to get or keep players playing? Curiosity about outcomes motivates players to keep going, especially seeing how small choices shift public opinion or results. The desire to “do better” in future runs also encourages replay.
3. Is the game persuasive, and what is it trying to get you to do outside of the game? Yes, the game is persuasive as it encourages players to think critically about voting, political participation, and civic responsibility. Outside the game, it nudges players to be more informed and engaged citizens.
4. What is the game’s metaphor and which of the game’s mechanics standout? The game uses voting as a metaphor for power and responsibility in democracy. Its standout mechanics are choice based decision making, limited information, and immediate cause and effect feedback.
5. How does the gameplay make you feel? Who does the game make you feel empathy for? The gameplay can feel tense and overwhelming, mirroring real political pressure. It builds empathy for voters and marginalized groups affected by political outcomes.
6. Is the game an activist game? If so what does the game play advocate for? Yes, it is an activist game that advocates for civic engagement, informed voting, and awareness of political systems. It emphasizes that participation has real consequences.
7. Describe the game in 3 sentences or in the form of a haiku. Choices mark the screen. Democracy feels fragile. Silence still decides.

5 game ideas:

1. You play as a junior White House policy analyst in a near-future U.S. where climate tech can only save some neighborhoods from collapse. Each briefing forces you to translate raw data into human consequences, families displaced, communities erased, political backlash ignored.
2. A sci-fi surveillance system predicts “economic failure zones.” You’re assigned to a low-class neighborhood flagged for “controlled decline.” Your job is to decide where to place limited resources, schools, clinics, power nodes, knowing every choice accelerates neglect somewhere else.
3. A classified AI claims it can prevent future uprisings by quietly relocating certain populations. You work in a White House basement approving or rejecting relocation requests from “undesirable” districts.
4. A citywide communication blackout hits only low-income districts after a failed experimental energy grid. From inside the White House, you coordinate rescue, but misinformation, political pressure, and limited drones distort reality.
5. Players uncover a fictional leaked White House initiative called Project Empath, a sci-fi program designed to optimize social stability by testing policies on marginalized neighborhoods first.

Gris

1. What made the experience fun or not?
2. I wouldn’t say it was fun, mostly cause its not my kind of game. It felt kinda slow and like a regular platformer. There were the classic mechanics of jumping and ground pounding but it didn’t introduce any new mechanics I haven’t seen before. I think this game is more about the story and lesson rather than the gameplay.
3. What is the motivating factor to get or keep players playing?
4. I think the factor is to try and get through the puzzles successfully, but more importantly I think the goal is to get through the story to learn more about the character and what shes going through.
5. Is the game persuasive, and what is it trying to get you to do outside of the game?
6. I didn’t feel exactly pursuaded in anyway. I think the game is trying to create empathy for people who are having a rough time. I didn’t play the game long enough to really learn about what she was going through but I believe she was sad and lost something.
7. What is the game’s metaphor and which of the game’s mechanics standout?
8. I think the metaphor is going through sadness and slowly improving and becoming heathier and happier. The mechanics didn’t really standout, but rather the lack of. All you could do is jump walk and ground pound while collecting stars and solving puzzles. The lack of mechanics comes in the form of simplicity with no eneimies, which are usually a staple to platformers. It takes away the competitive part of the game and rather creates a more relaxing environment for the player to understand the character.
9. How does the gameplay make you feel? Who does the game make you feel empathy for?
10. The gameplay was kind of boring because it was simple puzzles, but I assume the puzzles get a little trickier later into the game. I honestly didn’t understand the story but I kinda felt empathy for the character because she lost her voice.
11. Is the game an activist game? If so what does the game play advocate for?
12. I don’t think its an activist game but rather a persuasive game to try and get players to feel more empathy for others in the real life. It tries to show that alot of people go through hard times.
13. Describe the game in 3 sentences or in the form of a haiku.
14. a colorful land, jumping up and finding stars, to the next color

Detroit Become Human

1. What made the experience fun or not?
2. I enjoyed the expereince, its a good story telling game that gives the player alot of interactivity. It follows atleast 2 different androids that I know of who have different jobs in the world. It explores their relationships with others and allows the player to learn more as the game moves on, I’d like to play this game in my own time.
3. What is the motivating factor to get or keep players playing?
4. The motiviating factor is to get through the story and develop relationships with different characters, good or bad. It has an engaging story that makes the player want to keep playing.
5. Is the game persuasive, and what is it trying to get you to do outside of the game?
6. I think the game is perusasive in the sense its trying to teach about discrimination. The robots are treated poorly by their human creators and its a metaphor for racismm in real life. It wants to show the players how people might feel when being treated differently for something they cant control.
7. What is the game’s metaphor and which of the game’s mechanics standout?
8. The game is a metaphor for racism and trying to get players to understand that. The games mechanics stand out because even in a story it gives the player interacivity as well as the choices to develop relationships with different characters.
9. How does the gameplay make you feel? Who does the game make you feel empathy for?
10. I really like the game play, it makes me feel like im watching a movie but I am part of that movie. It tests your memory with some puzzles as well and its super entertaining. I felt some empathy for the androids because they are treated poorly because of how they were made, even if they are a good “person”.
11. Is the game an activist game? If so what does the game play advocate for?
12. The game can be considered an activist game. It advocates for minorities and people who are discriminated against. It shows this by giving instances of racist between the humans and the androids.
13. Describe the game in 3 sentences or in the form of a haiku.
14. a created bot, learning about the world and, becoming human

Outer Wilds

1. What made the experience fun or not?
2. It was decent, I’m not a fan of the movement in space which is a big part of the game, it get’s a little frustrating. It’s very exploratority and im not a big fan of those games. When I say explore its like walking around taking pictures, I don’t think you can collect materials which is whats missing for me.
3. What is the motivating factor to get or keep players playing?
4. The motivating factor is to explore other planets and find the truth about this other alien race. I only played the game for a bit and forget what the intro to the game told us so it’s a little confusing. I just know the goal is to explore and learn about other species.
5. Is the game persuasive, and what is it trying to get you to do outside of the game?
6. I don’t think its persuasive. Its pretty exploratory and the point is to learn about planets and other aliens. Maybe the point is to learn more about other parts of the world and explore different cultures.
7. What is the game’s metaphor and which of the game’s mechanics standout?
8. The games metaphor is to keep trying even after you fail, and after every failure you learn something new that can help you for next time!
9. How does the gameplay make you feel? Who does the game make you feel empathy for?
10. The gameplay can make me a little frustrated because the movement in space is pretty difficult because theres no friction. Theres also alot that can kill you, for example I followed a path and found myself in a blackhole. The point is though, next time I go to that planet I know not to go down that path. I don’t really feel empathy for anyone in this game. Its about exploring!
11. Is the game an activist game? If so what does the game play advocate for?
12. It could be? I can see people taking it as exploring other countries and cultures and trying to learn about other people. Maybe it says be kind and respect other’s cultures while you learn about them, no matter how different they are.
13. Describe the game in 3 sentences or in the form of a haiku.
14. fly a ship around, there is no friction in space, die and try again.

5 Games that revolve around empathy.

1. It’s a bit political, but with the big movements of ICE there can be a game where youre taken and put back into somewhere you don’t know. Maybe you live on a planet and you’re taken to a different one, and you have to leanr to get back on your feet.
2. There can be one about living in a lower class part of America. You start slow and its very difficult but you have to find different ways in order to become more successful and survive.
3. There can be a game about being homeless. Maybe you play as an alien who’s world is slowly collapsing and your house is destroyed. Then you have to go around collecting resources and trying to rebuild and survive.
4. Going back to about being homeless, we can add about wildlife preservaition too. You can play as an animal who gets his home destroyed and you have to find food to survive and make friends with other animals to protect yourself from predators. You could also find evolutions that make you stronger to help gather resoruces and protect yourself.
5. For the AR game, you can be a manager at a corrupt company. You have to go though books and look at what the company is doing to people and decide who to save and who to sacrafice in order to keep your job while also trying to reduce he damage on your innocent customers.

GAME IDEA AND RULES WILL BE POSTED SEPERATE

How does Mary Flanagan’s definition of a game differ from Crawford’s and Salen & Zimmerman’s?
Mary Flanagan sees games as tools that can share ideas and challenge society. Chris Crawford focuses more on games having goals and conflict. Salen and Zimmerman define games as systems with rules and outcomes. Flanagan’s definition is broader because it looks at meaning, not just structure.

What is an activist game?
An activist game is made to bring attention to social or political problems. It is meant to make players think, not just have fun. These games try to inspire change or awareness.

What other games have “perfect information” like Go and chess?
Perfect-information games show everything to all players. Games like checkers, tic-tac-toe, and Othello work this way. There is no hidden information in these games.

Why did chance or gambling games matter to ancient cultures?
Ancient people believed chance came from gods or fate. Random results were seen as messages, not accidents. These games were often used in religious activities.

When did conflicts between games and authorities begin, and what modern games have been criticized?
Conflicts over games started long ago, especially with gambling. Religious and government groups often worried games were harmful. Modern games like Dungeons & Dragons and Grand Theft Auto have faced criticism.

What is a fox game, and what is a modern example?
A fox game puts a weaker player against a stronger opponent. The weaker player must use smart thinking instead of strength. A modern example is Metal Gear Solid

What was the purpose of The Mansion of Happiness?
The game was made to teach good behavior. Players moved forward by making good choices. It was meant to teach moral and religious values.

Why did Fluxus and Surrealist artists play games, and why did Surrealists think games could help people?
They used games to break rules and think differently. Surrealists believed games helped people use their imagination. They saw play as a way to challenge normal thinking.

What changes show big changes in games, and how were pinball games changed during WWII?
Changes in images and themes show changes in society. During WWII, pinball games used war images. This helped support patriotism.

What were Fluxus artists saying by changing games like Monopoly and Ping-Pong?
They wanted people to question money, competition, and rules. Changing games made players think differently about play. The games became messages, not just entertainment.

How are artists like Duchamp and Yoko Ono using war games?
They change war games to question violence and power. Their work shows war in a critical way. This helps players think instead of just enjoy conflict.

Why is player choice important in serious or critical games?
Player choice helps people learn by doing. Making decisions shows real consequences. This makes the message of the game stronger and easier to understand.

1. What made the experience fun or not? Honestly I did not really get the premise of the game. I am a little biased becasue its not my kind of game but I feel like there was a lack of instructions. Granted I could have missed it but still, not my favorite game.
2. What is the motivating factor to get or keep players playing? Discovering new people and planets
3. Is the game persuasive, and what is it trying to get you to do outside of the game? I guess it persuades you to explore more planets.
4. What is the game’s metaphor and which of the game’s mechanics standout? Explore planets and meet friends.
5. How does the gameplay make you feel? Who does the game make you feel empathy for? Bored and I dont feel empathy for anyone.
6. Is the game an activist game? If so what does the game play advocate for? No
7. Describe the game in 3 sentences or in the form of a haiku. Space, Fly, Explore

1. What made the experience fun or not? I would say so, I wanted to go back and play more after I left.
2. What is the motivating factor to get or keep players playing? The continuing story of the characters in the game.
3. Is the game persuasive, and what is it trying to get you to do outside of the game? I think so, I think it makes the player feel guilt for the androids.
4. What is the game’s metaphor and which of the game’s mechanics standout? For me it was the camera because of ho bad it was.
5. How does the gameplay make you feel? Who does the game make you feel empathy for? For at least when my group played it was Todds family I believe. The dad is a tool and it makes you feel bad for his child.
6. Is the game an activist game? If so what does the game play advocate for? I dont belive so.
7. Describe the game in 3 sentences or in the form of a haiku. Android, Equal, Rights

1. What made the experience fun or not? For me it was fun because I played this whenever I was a child so it beings back old memories of me and my friends playing it.
2. What is the motivating factor to get or keep players playing? For me its a competition of who can get the best score out of your group.
3. Is the game persuasive, and what is it trying to get you to do outside of the game? For me at least its not persuasive, it doesn’t want me to do much. I only would want to get a better score than others.
4. What is the game’s metaphor and which of the game’s mechanics standout? I guess its dumb ways to die, and none of the mechanics really.
5. How does the gameplay make you feel? Who does the game make you feel empathy for? It gives you a little jolt, the further you get the faster and harder it gets.
6. Is the game an activist game? If so what does the game play advocate for? I believe it is, I think its about safety around trains.
7. Describe the game in 3 sentences or in the form of a haiku. Dumb stupid deaths

Out of the three my favorite would have to be Monopoly. Normal monopoly but you are split up into different groups. Each class has advantages or disadvantages. That makes the game either easier or harder passed off the class you fall in. For example if you get the lower class, there is a good chance you will not win. Some cases however you may be able to pull off a miracle.

The McDonalds game is simple and it shows the process of how they get everything to the restaurant then to the customer. I think its a cool way to show the process of what they did instead of playing a video or something like that.

Simple, you originally clicked to fill up a bucket and dump it. Now you have to meet a quota with the amount of buckets you fill up. You get assigned to a building that has a leak in it. If you do not fill up the buckets quick enough, the building will flood before your coworkers fix the leak. Continue this and you will get tougher jobs that are longer but pay out quicker.

1-Empire Game

A game about growing a new empire, the more your empire grows the more enemies you gain. It puts you and the people of your nation at risk.

2- Chef Simulator

You start the game by cooking whatever you like but the harsh reality is that people and critics are very tough on your food. You have to adjust to the customers needs with taste, prices, and portions.

3- Political Partay

You create a new political party and try to convince the people of your nation to join you. Could work out, or it can make the nation turn on you as a whole.

4- Climate Race

Similar to how there was a race to the moon lets say, each country is racing to find a way to end climate problems. However, some countries try to take shortcuts and end up hurting the Earth rather than fixing it.

5-Energy Crisis

Creating new ways to use energy is revolutionary. Many for the better, some are for the worse. Your goal is to make society grow without having any negative effects. For instance, think of when the first nuclear weapon was creating. What followed suit after that is not necessarily the best but it changed science forever. Follow your path, and make your own path in the history books.