Hey found this article that I found useful for the class about designing games:
Martin, A. (2021, July 10). Designing games for change. Good Thinking. https://medium.com/good-thinking/designing-games-for-change-110fc443ef8e
Summary in Bullets:
- Games are more than entertainment; practice for real life
- “magic circle” lets players experiment and fail without real-world consequences
- Games are effective for exploring behavior change, systems, and complex decisions
- Play is real cognitive work
- Good games build:
- collaboration
- critical thinking
- confidence
- Fun is essential; if it’s not engaging, it doesn’t work
- Example: a game made with teens in Zimbabwe to address women’s health
- Players were involved through co-creation and playtesting, not top-down teaching
- Overall, games help people explore who they are and who they could become in a safe space