Third Blog Post: Keywords Presentation

I found each of the presentations to be very interesting filled with new information that I did not previously know about. The most interesting thing I found about all of the presentations was that everything is connected to each other. All of the presentations overlapped with at least one other presentation, and mentioned similar topics that applied to both. For example, I remember that there were two presentations that talked about the critical play game design model and how the model is a basis for designing goals and, in the case of the class’s topic games. I found it very interesting how much value goals are in our lives on a daily basis. Our value goals have guided our lives and influenced the decisions we have made and I did not even realize that until the presentation. Value goals are what make us who we are and shape the morals that we have today. Another presentation that I thought was very interesting was the one about critical play. I thought it was particularly interesting when they connected critical play to a psychological aspect and how it could negatively impact individuals. For example, mind games focus on plausible relations between individuals while involved in gameplay. They are used to conceal individual motivations to create an apparent advantage as seen in the game of poker. Another example of critical play in our everyday lives is the game of hopscotch for children and its role in child development. How the game is designed and presented to the audience carries implications for the social group. Some people may choose to play the game, some choose not to, some choose to play by the rules, and some choose to cheat. Those who choose to cheat are presenting a negative example to others, and on a psychological aspect may show to the others that it is okay to cheat. Social interactions, such as the game of hopscotch, builds interaction and teaches social skills to young children. Therefore, the way the game was played and the different rules that were applied when played becomes the social rules for them and how they would interact with the world in the future. I did not previously connect a game as simple as hopscotch to such a complex understanding of how the game is played and how it shapes the way I think about societal rules, as introduced in the presentation. It was captivating hearing presentations about two different keywords and how each one was similar to my group’s presentation on design goals. Value goals and design goals have the same purpose, which is to get to a goal, using either a specific design or the values you have. Critical play and design goals both are important in a way that they shape how we view something. Overall, I think the biggest takeaway for me was how design goals, value goals, and critical play, along with the other keywords, all have a critical part in leisure activities, such as game play, and in more serious matters, such as child development.