Game Design Merit Badge Flash Class

Hosted by the Miami Valley Scout Shop

Overview: Games come in almost every shape, size, format, and flavor imaginable. Games can be fast-paced, slow, or anything in between. Some are competitive. Some are cooperative. They may be for individuals, small groups, or thousands of players at a time. They might take seconds to complete or last for years. However you slice it, everyone has played games, and games help make us who we are.

Who: Scouts BSA  Ages 10-17

Spaces for 15 youth to take the Merit Badge class.

When: Saturday May 4, 2024

Where: Miami Valley Scout Shop 7285 Poe Ave, Dayton

Cost: FREE

What to bring: 

• Notebook and pencil or pen
• Blue card
• Pre-requisites (see below)
• The Scouts will need to bring 2 games with them. One game is something simple (i.e. a deck of cards, chess, checkers, a quick board game, etc) that can be accomplished in no more than 20-30 minutes. The other game is the game they develop to play with the other scouts. 
• Packed lunch

Pre-requisites:

1. Do the following:
(a) Analyze four games you have played, each from a different medium. Identify the medium, player format, objectives, rules, resources, and theme (if relevant). Discuss with your counselor the play experience, what you enjoy in each game, and what you dislike. Make a chart to compare and contrast the games.

5. Design a new game. Any game medium or combination of mediums is acceptable. Record your work in a game design notebook.
(a) Write a vision statement for your game. Identify the medium, player format, objectives, and theme of the game. If suitable, describe the setting, story, and characters.

6. Do the following:
(a) Prototype your game from requirement 5. If applicable, demonstrate to your counselor that you have addressed player safety through the rules and equipment. Record your work in your game design notebook.

(b) Test your prototype with as many other people as you need to meet the player format. Compare the play experience to your descriptions from requirement 5b. Correct unclear rules, holes in the rules, dead ends, and obvious rule exploits. Change at least one rule, mechanic, or objective from your first version of the game, and describe why you are making the change. Play the game again. Record in your game design notebook whether or not your change had the expected effect.

(c) Repeat 6b at least two more times and record the results in your game design notebook.

7. Blind test your game. Do the following:
(a) Write an instruction sheet that includes all of the information needed to play the game. Clearly describe how to set up the game, play the game, and end the game. List the game objectives.

Contacts:
Merit Badge Counselor: Clay Prater clay_prater@yahoo.com

Scout Shop Manager: tammy.sternik@scouting.org