Monday, December 5, 2016

Day 28: FotLC through the 113 lenses from The Art of Game Design

Day 28 - Lens 95: The Lens of Spectation
For thousands of years, man has loved to sit and watch others play games - but only if the games are worth watching. To make sure your game is spectator worthy, ask yourself these questions:

Is my game interesting to watch? Why or why not?
I would like to think that it is interesting to watch. At playtesting sessions we often attract viewers. I have tried to make the game theatrical, with the end of turn fist raising, challenges and so on. This serves to entertain the players as well as viewers.  Also for most playtests I am just watching. Admittedly I am a biased audience but I find each match interesting both for the game play and the social drama.

How can I make it more interesting to watch?
That's an interesting question. I think that I could add some spectator interaction for flavor. Especially for running the game on convention floors. Things like having a call and response between the Teller running the game and the audience.

Teller: "Six stood in the wasteland!"
Audience: "The City stood alone."

Teller: "We have a Challenge!"
Audience: "Do they say true?"

Teller: "The City has fallen!"
Audience: "Who will take the heads?"

Teller: "Player Name controls the wasteland!"
Chorus: "How will you lead us?"

That kind of thing. I don't think it would be a part of the normal game, but for public matches it could add interest for the audience, help to draw more of a crowd and if it worked well make for a cool experience for the players.

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