Mushrooms, Queens and Spicy Meetings

It already feels like way more than a month ago that Terry Pearce and I presented our session at GBLVC - The Games-based Learning Conference - organised by Dave Eng - but it isn't - I just checked my calendar. So much has happened since, including a second, completely different version of the game we presented there. 'Gift Horse' is a lyric game we devised as part of our session entitled 'Interrogating your Avatar'. It's suitable for solo or group play just fun, but also for use by coaches and facilitators who want a deep reflection tool.

It's available for download from itch.io (first version), and the same game, but an entirely different format - a card deck, will soon be available on Deckible - when it launches in a few weeks - assuming that Nick Kellet thinks that Gift Horse is up to snuff. I finished uploading it this morning - a very simple process of populating a spreadsheet and copying. It features a totally new look and I think this second version is my current favourite. If you have a deck you would like to add to this new marketplace, be sure to speak to Nick.

Talking of Dave Eng, this is the second time he has run the GBLVC, featuring some splendid speakers in the field. He is offering lifetime access to all (current and future) material from both conferences, as well as his comprehensive digital library of games-based learning resources - webinars, courses, podcasts and videos, for a one-off flat fee. Readers of this newletter can receive a $50 discount on this already very valuable offer.

He has also contributed an article on Games Mechanics for Learning this month, if you want a taste of what you will be getting if you take him up on his offer.

Screen shot from RENOVATIO Quest

This month's newsletter straddles last month's theme of 'Quests' and the new theme 'Mechanics'. The last of the Quest articles came from new Ludogogy contributor Enea Montoli and was about his RENOVATIO Quest - which represents 200 hours!!! - yes you read right, of gaming and studying which he has built for school students learning Maths and Physics.

The first of the 'Mechanics' articles came from another new contributor, Kevin Hassall . I was really excited when I read his article about his soon to be released game Queen’s Rule. It explores how mechanics emerge from theme, and in this case the theme was a really interesting departure (for most of us) on the medieval strategy game - because the (real historical) society this game describes is matrilineal and exogamous. I definitely recommend reading this if only to discover how this fundamentally changes the role of the 'Prince' in the strategy of playing this game.

If you would like to see your ideas in (virtual) print, like Enea and Kevin, drop me a line at [email protected]. The themes for June and July are 'The Quantified Self' and 'Social Learning' respectively.

News from the Ludogogy Patreon. A number of brilliant folk have signed up at various levels to support Ludogogy. It's a really good start, but things are very precarious, still. I really want to continue (and grow) the offering, so if Ludogogy offers value to you, please consider supporting Ludogogy through Patreon. You also get some great patron benefits, such as an exclusive newsletter, with first look at games design projects, and access to a games-design Mastermind.

The first Mastermind for those at the 'Gamemaker' level was held this week, and we had a productive hour finding solutions and brainstorming around a number of real games design problems. I have been reliably informed that the Gamemaker patron level is priced way too low considering the offer of a Mastermind group, so that will need to change. Those who have already signed up or who do so before I amend the rate, will be grandfathered the current cost, so it's now by way of being a bit of an Early Bird offer.

New patron benefits and offerings are in the works, including additional learning materials to accompany articles. Watch this space.

The first Ludogogy games design challenge - a mash up between chess and cards, gained another entry from Paul Kreutzer who definitely took the prize for the most succinct entry. He also shared a game with me that's played on a Go board and which simulates an AI. I'm DEFINITELY looking at this this weekend, Paul, whatever comes up.

I got less response to the next games-design challenge - but no matter, because I got properly pulled into my own challenge, which started with a Guardian article about mushroom communication. I've been exploring this for a while now and it's grown into a game about cultural negotiation, which should be suitable for coaches and facilitators looking to explore learning outcomes around communication, organisational culture and teamworking. There is a playtest of 'Mycelium' scheduled for 5pm BST on the 8th June.

I sadly had to miss the Miro Games - an initiative by Said Saddouk because I was double booked with something I couldn't dodge. This time it was Pictionary. It will take wild horses to drag me away from the next one. I suggested to Said that he is a 'Miru', which is Sarah-speak for a Miro Guru. But he tells me he prefers Mero (Miro Hero).

New games I have been introduced to this month (not all new, but all new to me):

Jeremy Yanovsky posted about the Stanley Parable and alerted me to his ENGAGE videos all at the same time.

I spoke to Leslie Robinson about various games, including her Loss and Remembrance game, and the Keep It Real Diversity & Inclusion game, which soon became the topic of her first article for Ludogogy and which she will be demoing on the 13th June at 6:30pm BST

I also got to play 'Root' with Terry Pearce. The technology gods were not with us on that particular evening - but definitely an interesting game, with asymmetry of actions, that creates compelling dynamics and which I will try again.

The article I wrote about Yomi - a Japanese term meaning 'reading your opponent', has led to an invitation to speak, which I am now prepping for. Watch this space for more details.

I was honoured to present at Gamicon48V organised by the wonderful Monica Cornetti and her team - where I explored why it is that we have ended up having to 'gamify' something - learning - which is, or at least should be, already fun in its own right. The transcript of that session is now an article, along with some suggested activities to explore the ideas further. You get the history lesson about water-closets thrown in for free.

You may have hear me mention Deckible (once or twice), recently. I'm going through the process of 'translating' a book into a card deck at the moment, which inspired me to post another Games design challenge – to get folk to think about books as decks. If you like that idea, but are stuck as to how you'd do it, watch out for news of a course (as a deck, naturally), which will take you step-by-step through the process.

You know how you go to a webinar, and its often really disappointing that its not much more than a sales pitch? Well I've been thinking about trying to utilise Instagram more, so I went to a session run by Dean Seddon last week. Really top notch, actionable stuff, Dean. Thank you.

You may have heard me mention Possum Creek Games once or twice too. I'm waiting eagerly for a couple of Kickstarter parcels from them, relating to 'Our Haunt' and 'Yazeba's Bed and Breakfast'. Had some invites to some great digital 'Yazeba' content this week, so I spent some time learning how to use One More Multiverse. You need to check this out - a FREE to use platform for creating your own RPGs, and it's beautiful.

Another highlight of the Gamicon48V conference was getting to network and mingle. There's an exciting new partnership in the offing, with whole new way to enjoy the insights from articles in Ludogogy. I'll keep you updated.

Ludogogy would like to congratulate Sofia Kavlin who contributed a brilliant article about gamification for thriving cities some time ago. Sofia is one of the finalists in the Nudge Global Impact Challenge. Best of Luck - you'll smash it.

I'm in the slightly enviable position this week of having articles 'in the bag' already, so you can look forward to, in the next couple of weeks, an article on Game Dynamics from Dave Eng, one from me on the experience of developing the 'My-Celium' game, an article from our sister publication, Gamijournal in Seoul, about ramblr.com and more new contributors in the shapes of Keith Burnett and Zak Moore, whose article about playfulness is peppered with 70s UK pop culture references (my favourite kind).

Just prior to starting to write this newsletter this morning, I spoke to Dov Tsal, who was one of the first to respond to Ludogogy's call back in the early months of 2020. He has added to his brilliant 'Meeting Spicer' game, which seeks to get the best from your remote meetings, with a new offering 'Ownership Spicer', which uses an interesting poker like mechanic to gauge agreement in delegation situations. You can access these games in English and French at meetingspicer.com

Until next time, Ludogogers.