Term 1 is over? … Really?
It’s hard to believe that two months have flown past, and that a new journey in term 2 is about to start. Right away it became clear that this wasn’t just an educational facility teaching game design. It was more like a Colosseum where game designer wannabes are pitted against tough challenges that must be conquered. The school gives you the tools to succeed, but they won’t fight your battles. You and your classmates must unite to overcome what is thrown at you. If you do, then we may have what it takes to be game designers.
I certainly had my fair share of ‘beasts’ to slay in term 1. It wasn’t just the homework that dictated the term’s difficulty. Class dynamic, organization, and changing old habits were all tough walls to climb. Now is a great time to stop and reflect on what challenges term 1 presented, and the practices that were used to overcome those challenges. First off, lets start with the class…
The GD33 Team
We quickly discovered that our team’s strength lies in our differences, and that created an interest in each other that brought us together. People truly tried to befriend one another, and that kind of international unity is what aided our progression through term 1. They are my mentors, coworkers, and friends. I’m very fortunate to have a team that I am excited to see everyday.
Our team is small, but the 13 of us represent 8 countries (Canada, America, Mexico, Brazil, Nicaragua, India, Russia, South Korea) and speak over 5 languages. I’m honoured to be their class representative, and I’m eager to see what kind of games we’ll make.
Top 3 Practices:
1. Create a calendar: In the first week I made a Google form to share with the rest of the team to keep track of our assignments and the dates they were due. It worked fine, then we discovered we could use the class’s whiteboard. So I created a calendar there, and as a team we all made sure to maintain it. It was incredibly helpful and it felt great when we could erase an assignment off the board.
2. Have playtest parties: Creating your board game in term 1 is the biggest time investment. Two team members, Nicholas Plouffe & Maria Lee, had an excellent idea of hosting playtest parties at their place. They opened their homes and everyone else brought food, drinks and their games. It was not only a great way to get feedback, but it was also a good milestone to make your game playable.
3. Get out of your shell: Okay, this one was tricky. I’m an introvert, so my natural response when I have finished my work is to go home and unwind. Then I noticed I was missing out on some great opportunities to know my team better. After all, I’ll be spending a year with them. I made sure to go out more, even if its just a walk or out to lunch. Every bit helps.