Overview: Implementing Transformative Leisure Role-playing Games
Unit 2 Overview
In Unit 2, we will discuss considerations when implementing leisure role-playing games for transformative purposes. We will dive a bit deeper into the psychology of play, particularly with regard to bleed, immersion, and post-game emotional reactions. We will consider these topics with regard to implementation strategies in order to best facilitate transformative experiences. Also important to consider is that facilitators are sometimes players in the game as well. Reflect upon the ways in which these phenomena might also affect people implementing games.
In this Unit, we will cover:
- Bleed
- Immersion
- Post-game emotional reactions
- Integration
- Debriefing
* * *
Note: Some of the materials below may not be available outside of this course. We are providing them as part of your education within this course. Do not distribute PDFs.
Required materials:
Readings:
- Järvelä, Simo. 2019. “How Real Is Larp?” In Larp Design: Creating Role-play Experiences, edited by Johanna Koljonen, Jaakko Stenros, Anne Serup Grove, Aina D. Skjønsfjell and Elin Nilsen, 22-24. Copenhagen, Denmark: Landsforeningen Bifrost.
- Lukka, Lauri. 2014. “The Psychology of Immersion.” In The Cutting Edge of Nordic Larp, edited by Jon Back, 81-92. Denmark: Knutpunkt.
- Teteau-Surel, Leïla. 2021. “10 Steps for Integrating Transformative Experiences.” In Book of Magic: Vibrant Fragments of Larp Practices, edited by Kari Kvittingen Djukastein, Marcus Irgens, Nadja Lipsyc, and Lars Kristian Løveng Sunde, 117-124. Oslo, Norway: Knutepunkt.
Videos:
- Mersmann, Eric, Kim Sward, Alex Rowland, Raquel Skellington, Sarah Lynne Bowman, and Martin Nielsen. 2018. “Bleed Management, De-roling, and Debriefing.” Living Games Conference. YouTube, May 18.