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Students in my humanities course learned ancient and modern games, played them in class, and made their own games. Attendees are invited to express their cultures of play in this interactive session.

In adapting the Introduction to Humanities survey to games-based pedagogy, I wanted to explore the idea that how we play defines who we are and what we value, and vice versa. In planning, I spent an MLA Humanities Innovation Grant to buy teaching copies of ancient and modern games from Mancala to The Quiet Year, with an eye out for games learnable within a class period without prior knowledge. For coursework, students wrote personal biographies of play, read brief histories and theories including Sutton-Smith’s seven rhetorics, played games every week, designed games mechanics (for movement, competition, interactivity, storytelling, and cooperation), and play-tested their games during finals week. The Hungry Hungry Hippos tournament was by far the most popular with my first round of students. I invite you to review the course with me and relive some of its fun.

• Event Type TRD - Trade Day Events
• Game System —
• Rules Edition —
• Day Wednesday
• Start Time 4:00 PM
• End Time 5:00 PM
• Duration 1 hours
• Location JW
• Room White River Ballroom J
• Table —
• Age Required Everyone (6+)
• Experience Required None (You've never played before - rules will be taught)
• Min Players 4
• Max Players 40
• Cost Free
• Tickets Available 40
• GM / Organizer Tim Bryant
• Group —
• Tournament No
• Round 1 of 1
• Materials Required No
• Materials Details —
• Website english.buffalostate.edu/directory/timothy-j-bryant
• Email timothyjbryant@gmail.com
• Special Category none
• Last Modified —