EDGE

Overview: Research and Implementation Specifics

Unit 5 Overview

In Unit 5, we will discuss specifics of different approaches to role-playing game research, as well as implementing role-playing games for educational purposes. We will discuss one of the most popular methods in role-playing game studies, participant-observation ethnography, as well as other approaches to research. We will specifically focus on ways to gather Effects Studies, particularly with regard to the potential benefits of role-playing games. We will consider the act of documentation in terms of research and how it might affect participants. 

In terms of implementation, we will look at several videos and articles with recommendations, including information on “gamemastering,” or facilitation. We will also read an in-depth case study of larp implementation gone wrong.

In this Unit, we will cover:

• Methods beyond Research through Design
• Effects/Benefits Research
• Best practices for implementation design

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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:

• Simon Brind, Halfdan Keller Justesen, Sarah Lynne Bowman, Alessandro Giovannucci, Felipe García-Soriano, and Kjell Hedgard Hugaas. In review. “Chapter 3: Production and Logistics for Transformative Role-playing Games.” In Implementing Transformative Role-playing Games, edited by Sarah Lynne Bowman, Simon Brind, and Kjell Hedgard Hugaas, pp. 116-190. Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis. Transformative Play Research 2. Uppsala University Publications.
• Hugaas, Kjell Hedgard, Joshua Juvrud, Sarah Lynne Bowman, Josefin Westborg, Guus Quinten van Tilborg, Felipe García-Soriano, and Josephine Rydberg. In review. “Chapter 7: Playtesting and Researching Role-playing Game Implementation.” In Implementing Transformative Role-playing Games, edited by Sarah Lynne Bowman, Simon Brind, and Kjell Hedgard Hugaas, pp. 391-448. Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis. Transformative Play Research 2. Uppsala University Publications.
• Pohjola, Mike. 2021. “Dragonbane Memories.” Nordiclarp.org, August 18.

Content Advisory on “Dragonbane Memories”: Statutory rape, sexual abuse, organizer negligence, manipulation. If you need an alternative assignment, please let the instructors know.

Optional materials:

Videos:

• Bowman, Sarah Lynne. 2020. “Researching Analog Role-playing Games: Difficulties and Approaches.” Interacting MindsAU, Dec. 11.
• Esposito, Cosmo, and Alessandro Giovannucci. 2024. “Larp and Community: Between Design and Ethnography.” Transformative Play Initiative. YouTube, July 9.
• Suominen, Taisto. 2024. “Game Technologies in Larp and Tabletop RPGs — Taisto Suominen.” Transformative Play Initiative. YouTube, May 14. (28:00-49:44)
• Waern, Annika. 2019. “How to Gather Feedback from Players.”  In Larp Design: Creating Role-play Experiences, edited by Johanna Koljonen, Jaakko Stenros, Anne Serup Grove, Aina D. Skjønsfjell and Elin Nilsen, 373-388. Copenhagen, Denmark: Landsforeningen Bifrost.
• Westborg, Josefin. 2023. “Game Design: Implementation.” Transformative Play Initiative. YouTube, January 26.

Recommended materials:

Therapeutic Effects Studies:

• Abbott, Matthew S., Kimberly A. Stauss, and Allen F. Burnett. 2021. “Table-top Role-playing Games as a Therapeutic Intervention with Adults to Increase Social Connectedness.” Social Work with Groups 45, no. 1 (16-21).
• Daniau, Stéphane. 2016. “The Transformative Potential of Role-playing Games: From Play Skills to Human Skills.” Simulation & Gaming 47, no. 4: 423–444.
• Fein, Elizabeth. 2016. “Making Meaningful Worlds: Role-playing Subcultures and the Autism Spectrum.” Culture, Medicine, Psychiatry 39, no. 2: 299-321.
• Gutierrez, Raul. 2016. “Therapy & Dragons: A look into the Possible Applications of the Possible Applications of Table Top Role Playing Games in Therapy with Adolescents.” Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations 527: 1-39.
• Henrich, S., and R. Worthington. 2021. “Let Your Clients Fight Dragons: A Rapid Evidence Assessment Regarding the Therapeutic Utility of ‘Dungeons & Dragons’.” Journal of Creativity in Mental Health: 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/15401383.2021.1987367
• Katō, Kōhei. “Employing Tabletop Role-Playing Games (TRPGs) in Social Communication Support Measures for Children and Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Japan: A Hands-On Report on the Use of Leisure Activities.” Japanese Journal of Analog Role-Playing Game Studies 0: 23-28.
• Pitt, Caroline, Katharine Chen, Jennifer Rubin, Dominic Gibson, and Sam Bindman. 2023. “How Youth Can Build Social and Emotional Skills with Tabletop Role-playing Games: Research Findings and Actionable Insights.” White paper, Foundry10.
• Rosselet, Julien G., and Sarah D. Stauffer. 2013. “Using Group Role-playing Games with Gifted Children and Adolescents: A Psychosocial Intervention Model.” International Journal of Play Therapy 22, no. 4 (December 1).
• Varrette, Matthew, Jack Berkenstock, Adams Greenwood-Ericksen, Anthony Ortega, Faith Michaels, Veronica Pietrobon, and Marc Schodorf. 2022. “Exploring the Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Role-playing Games as an Intervention for Adults with Social Anxiety.” Social Work with Groups: 1-17.

Note: Some of these studies come from the field of Social Work, which is part of the overall umbrella of mental health studies. Others research leisure environments, but the results are relevant in therapeutic work.

Research Approaches:

• Cazeneuve, Axiel. 2022. “Immersion as a Method and a Mindset.” Analog Game Studies IX, no. II (May 22).
• Esposito, Cosmo. 2024. “Larp and Community: Between Design and Ethnography — Cosmo Esposito and Alessandro Giovannucci.” Transformative Play Initiative. YouTube, July 9. (00:00 – 33:00).
• Waldron, Emma Leigh. 2014. “Larp-as-Performance-as-Research.” Analog Game Studies I, no. I (August 1).

Documentation:

• MacDonald, James Lórien. 2015. “On Publicity and Privacy: Or ‘How Do You Do Your Documentation?’” In The Knudepunkt Companion Book, 72-77. Rollespils Akademiet.
• Pettersson, Juhana. 2015. “Looking at You, Larp, Documentation, and Being Watched.” Nordiclarp.org, March 11.

Implementation Design:

Readings:

• Bjärstorp, Sara, and Petra Ragnerstam. 2023. “Live-action Role Playing and the Affordances of Social Media.” Culture Unbound 15, no. 2: 66-87.
• Boss, Emily Care, Ivan Vaghi, and Jason Morningstar. 2012. “Beyond the Game Master: The Rise of Peer Empowered Tabletop Roleplay.” In States of Play: Nordic Larp Around the World, edited by Juhana Pettersson, 163-169. Helsinki, Finland: Pohjoismaisen roolipelaamisen seura.
• Bowman, Sarah Lynne. 2018. “The Larp Domino Effect.” In Shuffling the Deck: The Knutepunkt 2018 Color Printed Companion, edited by Annika Waern and Johannes Axner, 161-170. Pittsburgh, PA: Carnegie Mellon University: ETC Press.
• Ebbehøj, Søren, Signe Løndahl Hertel, and Jonas Trier-Knudsen. 2019. “Spatial Design for Larps.” In Larp Design: Creating Role-play Experiences, edited by Johanna Koljonen, Jaakko Stenros, Anne Serup Grove, Aina D. Skjønsfjell and Elin Nilsen, 293-305. Copenhagen, Denmark: Landsforeningen Bifrost.
• Koljonen, Johanna. 2019. “Opt-out and Playstyle Calibration Mechanics.” In Larp Design: Creating Role-play Experiences, edited by Johanna Koljonen, Jaakko Stenros, Anne Serup Grove, Aina D. Skjønsfjell and Elin Nilsen, 235-237. Copenhagen, Denmark: Landsforeningen Bifrost.
• Tolvanen, Anni, and Irrette Melakoski. 2019. “The Fundamentals of Sound Design for Larp.” In Larp Design: Creating Role-play Experiences, edited by Johanna Koljonen, Jaakko Stenros, Anne Serup Grove, Aina D. Skjønsfjell and Elin Nilsen, 316-328. Copenhagen, Denmark: Landsforeningen Bifrost.
• Torner, Evan. 2019. “How to Run a Freeform Larp.” In Larp Design: Creating Role-play Experiences, edited by Johanna Koljonen, Jaakko Stenros, Anne Serup Grove, Aina D. Skjønsfjell and Elin Nilsen, 350-354. Copenhagen, Denmark: Landsforeningen Bifrost.
• Westerling, Anna, and Anders Hultman. 2019. “Using Runtime Directors.” In Larp Design: Creating Role-play Experiences, edited by Johanna Koljonen, Jaakko Stenros, Anne Serup Grove, Aina D. Skjønsfjell and Elin Nilsen, 342-346. Copenhagen, Denmark: Landsforeningen Bifrost.

Videos:

• Teilmann, Rasmus. 2018. “Lighting Equipment and Tecniques – Part 1.” Blackbox-CPH. YouTube, October 8.
• Teilmann, Rasmus. 2018. “Lighting Equipment and Tecniques – Part 2.” Blackbox-CPH. YouTube, October 8.