About This Week's Lesson:
This week we take an evolutionary look at the development of games from the Renaissance to modern times. This is a story that focuses on the radical innovations in games using simulation technique, via Chess and through the birth of serious "war games" and their development in the German States right up to the beginning of the 20th century.
The game industry is a process that surrounds the inception, creation, and sale of the product (games). Games have a very rich history and, by taking an overview of games themselves, you will learn much about games dating them all the way back to B.C. ("Before Computers"). Who knew that the lots cast in the most ancient games ever discovered would evolve into today's binary bits; or that modern game design was once a military secret?
In addition to continuing the fascinating story of the game design evolution from the Renaissance to the 20th century, in this week's lab we'll look at von Reisswitz's Kriegspiel game from the 1830s and play a war game that is the bridge from ancient to modern gaming, a small introductory game called Strike Force One.
If you want the Review Sheet with all of the lecture notes from this week's class session, it is available on the course syllabus page (click on the appropriate Lecture link). Note that each Review Sheet is password protected and that the passwords are sent to you each week via email in the class newsletter. If you're enrolled in this class and are not receiving the class newsletter, click here to send me the email address you want me to use. I will then add you to the class email list and you'll receive it regularly from then on. Each week's class newsletter includes a link to the course syllabus page plus the password you'll need to open the file.
These links feature the supplemental material that you are responsible for knowing before the first exam (that takes place at the beginning of Week 4). Be sure to click on every link in this section!
Review Sheet: by Alan Emrich
The Review Sheet you were provided at the end of class this week has additional information on the subject of the history of games, with plenty of interesting factoids and tid bits included. Be sure to give this Review Sheet a thorough read; you will be responsible for knowing all of its contents for the first exam in two weeks!
These supplemental links are worth pursuing only if you wish to really learn the subject matter of game design in the broadest possible sense. This material will not be directly included in the exams, but if you're serious about being a game designer and delving deeply into the subject of game design art, craft, and science, here's some more lessons from others who have also "been there."
Article: A Brief History of Wargaming by Bepi Entertainment
With a few additional twists and turns, here's today's lesson in miniature and a look ahead if you want to see where our story is going next week.
Article: A Short History of Paper Gaming by Greg Costikyan
Mr. Costikyan not only wrote about the history of paper games, he helped make it. You'll be seeing his name again and, hopefully, you will take a little time to explore his website. He's a very progressive thinking about the paper game industry, and where it stands in relation to computer games and the military.
Bibliography: Week 2
Lab Game Examined This Week:This is the game that we played and analyzed in class this week. If you want more information about it, see the link below:
STRIKE FORCE ONE is a small but 'serious' war game that teaches many lessons about simulation technique. It is available as a free download by clicking on the link above or the picture of the playing board to the right. This tiny introductory game ties together many of the lessons taught in class to date. It affords us:
Game Component:
Strike Force One Rules
Game Component:
Strike Force One Map, Pieces and Combat Results Table
Game Component: Strike Force One Sample
Game
Game Analysis:
Strike Force One
Game Design Analysis
