This week, we learnt about game mechanics and how to identify them when playing a game. It was really interesting to understand the different types of mechanics there are, and we were able to practice this by playing one of the games in class, and used BoardGameGeek to list the mechanics used in the game. We played the game Herd Mentality as a group, utilizing game mechanics that included hot potato and voting. I also looked up the mechanics for the game Azul, which were grid coverage, open drafting, and pattern building. Also, the game Taboo, which has communication limits and a team-based game as its game mechanics.
It was great to look behind the scenes and use the game mechanics to determine the aim of the games and the best ways to play them. The Herd Mentality game is somewhat related to leadership because it encourages players to think outside the box, when most people are inclined to think similarly, especially when playing a game. It was a party game, so I think it’s be great for a large group of people with different age ranges to play together to see how many people are able to stand out.
It was easier because we were all similar ages, so our answers were mostly the same, and we could easily identify who was thinking outside the box. We weren’t able to play certain parts of the game, like the “Who’s Most Likely To”, because we had just met and didn’t know each other well.