EDGE

Submission of Major Assignment 1: Scaling Implementation Plan

For Major Assignment 1, you will choose a game that you designed in Introduction to Transformative Game Design or Transformative Game Design 1. You will scale up this game in one of the following ways:

a) Extended length of single session with additional content/scenes,e. 2-8 hours.

b) A multi-day larp, e. 24-36 hours.

c) Multiple single sessions with the same character or setting, e. a campaign with four (4) sessions lasting 2-4 hours.

Overall, your choices should reflect consideration of impacts on the players in each section, including not only desired transformative impacts, but also any consequences your choices might have on players.

Total word limit for Major Assignment 1: 1700-2300 words. Word limits do not include subject headings.

Your paper should cover the following major sections: Game Design and Scaling, as well as the required subheadings. Use separate section headings for each and adhere to the word limits as closely as possible for full credit. Use complete sentences and paragraph form, but be brief and succinct. Some categories will need more description than others.

1) Game Design (200-300 words): Describe your original game design. Focus only on details necessary to understand the desired transformative impact(s), the concept, and the game play.

2) Scaling (1500-2000 words): Describe how you plan to scale your game using the below outline as subheadings. 

a) Population: Who are your intended players?

b) Type: What type of game will it be?

• Will this game be tabletop, larp, or freeform?
• Is your game intended to be Leisure Transformational, Therapeutic, or Educational? Why?
• How many sessions (one-shot or campaign) and how long will each game session be, i.e., 4 hours, 3 days, etc.?

c) Facilitation: How many facilitators will you need? How will runtime game mastering occur? Are external responsible parties required, i.e. teachers or counselors?

d) Logistics: What are the logistical details necessary for the game to be successfully implemented?

• Size: How big will your player base be?
• Space: In which space(s) will the group play? 
• Time: How long will the game session(s) take? How many game sessions will there be, i.e. single session, multiple sessions, and/or multiple days per session? 
• Atmosphere: What atmosphere will you create through location, sound design, scenography, and other factors?
• Tools: What tools will be needed for the game to be implemented, including costumes, props, etc.?
• Preparation: What preparations are needed to ensure smooth implementation:
  • What will you provide (or not provide) in terms of food, restroom facilities, sleeping arrangements?
  • What preparations do you and any other facilitators need to make before play can begin?
  • How will cleanup occur?
  • What do players need to do to prepare before the game?
• Creation: Who is responsible for the creation of the fiction?
  • How will worldbuilding and character creation occur?
  • To what degree can player choices impact the game during runtime, i.e. what is their degree of agency?

e) Game Activities: Expand upon your original idea with additional activities and/or modules.

• What specific activities or modules will you prepare?
• What intended transformational impacts and/or learning objectives do these activities have? Be specific.

f) Interaction: How will players interface with the others?

• How will players interact with each other during the game?
• How will players establish character relations?
• How will they interact with the facilitators during the game?
• How will they interact with the game world and/or environment? Be specific.

g) Framing: How will you frame the game according to your desired transformative impacts and/or learning objectives?

• What workshops will you include and how will they contribute to the desired transformative impacts?
• How will debriefing take place?
• What other post-game processing activities do you have planned? Be specific.

h) Support: What can players expect in terms of support throughout the process?

• How will players be instructed to support one another before, during, and after play? 
• What safety mechanics and/or techniques will you include?
• How will facilitators support players before, during, and after play? If relevant, include the activities of any additional responsible parties who will support learning and emotional well-being, i.e. teachers, counselors, etc.

i) Communication:How will facilitators communicate with players and vice versa throughout the process? 

• How will you promote this game and recruit players?
• How will players contact you before, during, and after the game session(s)? How often will you be available for contact?
• How often will you contact them?

j) Documentation: Will you record what occurs before, during, and after the game?

• How will you document the game, if at all?
• How will you obtain consent for documentation?
• In what contexts or publication venues will documentation be used? Be specific.

3) Game Design Document:  As an Appendix, include your Game Design Document from Transformative Game Design 1.