dipity

Created by MichaelBrana on Jan 10, 2011

Last updated: 01/10/11 at 04:06 PM

• Dipity Timeline Created
  Jan 10, 2011 12:53 PM

• Crossword Puzzle
  Aug 1999

  Question 1: Why was this game important to you? Crossword puzzles opened up a whole new vocabulary and way of thinking to me. Taking clues, figuring them out and learning something new were vital to the development of my young mind. Question 2: From a Designer’s Perspective, what skills was the game trying to teach? And how did the game try to teach these skills? Critical thinking is taught by crossword puzzles. The game gives hints somewhere around the puzzle and the player must use them to find an answer.

• Minesweeper
  Dec 1997

  Question 1: Why was this game important to you? This was actually one of the first games I ever played on a PC. It intrigued me that such a simple game could become so difficult and stressful. Question 2: From a Designer’s Perspective, what skills was the game trying to teach? And how did the game try to teach these skills? They game taught patience and prediction. Clicking on one of the boxes on the field revealed a number or a bomb. The numbers let the player know that there were that many bombs around that number. Flags could be placed by the player to remind them later on. I never really found out how or when I won the game however.

• Manhunt
  Nov 1997

  Question 1: Why was this game important to you? This was a very social game. It was a time of cops and robbers game and it helped build the relationships I had with my friends in the neighborhood and it was a outside exercise that always broke the norm of inside or passive board games. Question 2: From a Designer’s Perspective, what skills was the game trying to teach? And how did the game try to teach these skills? Teamwork was central in this game. Assigning a person to guard a safe zone, picking out lookouts, and then ultimately the hunters themselves to catch the fugitive(s) was important to winning. Survivability and outmaneuvering the opponent are some of the most important skills in the game.

• Monopoly
  Sep 1997

  Question 1: Why was this game important to you? This was a big game with my family. It was something we all enjoyed very much. We loved playing this during holidays especially. Question 2: From a Designer’s Perspective, what skills was the game trying to teach? And how did the game try to teach these skills? Player investment and management are critical in a game like monopoly. The game teaches this by handing money to a player and leaving it up to them how they invest and manage that money along with the properties they own.

• Chess
  Apr 1996

  Question 1: Why was this game important to you? This was one of the first board games I ever played when I was a child. My grandfather had an old set lying around and eventually I learned all the rules for it. It was something we used to do a lot together and it helped teach me that a lot of times when you’re up against an opponent that is much smarter than you and experienced unpredictable behavior can be your ticket to winning. Question 2: From a Designer’s Perspective, what skills was the game trying to teach? And how did the game try to teach these skills? Chess was a game of strategy and allowed the player to use pieces that moves differently around the board to capture pieces and ultimately capture the opponent’s king. For me, Chess seemed to teach me how to outwit and overpower your opponent. It was also a wise teacher of protecting what you have. While chess had its more powerful pieces on the board, like the Queen, it tries to teach that many times the most powerful playing pieces are the ones you have to protect the most.