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Game Concept: The Office

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Sat, 06/22/2013 - 01:00
Word Nerd
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I recently read about how the unconscious mind keeps working on problems even while we are involved in other tasks (http://thetartan.org/2013/2/25/scitech/braindec). I was reading this within the context of my work as an educator interested in gamifying the classroom. However, I currently work in a commercial education environment which physically is more like an office.

This got me to thinking about how to design a game which players can use in a typical office workspace, without interfering in normal operations or staff duties. This game will not require a board (space), dice, tokens, or even a rule book. Everything a player needs to know to play will be printed on cards which they hold, collect, combine, cancel, display, capture, discard, surrender, or use to score (among other things). Players will choose places for the "Deck" and "Discards" or other game purposes.

Play ideas? Game names?

Your two cents, please.

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Sat, 06/22/2013 - 03:29
#1
laperen
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would be cool if you could

would be cool if you could combine DnD storytelling with the normal office working environment

im imagining the game title "Boss Dungeon" and the game art depicts this dark room with torches and all the decor of a medieval castle, and in it a cooperate meeting is going on

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Sat, 06/22/2013 - 04:21
#2
parvez
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Great idea

Hi,

I think it is a great idea to gamify the workplace. Though it depends how intense the work atmosphere you would want to portray - a bank or marketing office or a trading house.. But yes, if one can make the game universal and revolve around universal work-related emotions or values like punctuality, accountability, quality, honesty, customer-responsiveness or something as simple as cultivate use of good ol' manners at work or in communication - I think the whole world would be a better 'office' space !
Few suggestions for the name :
* Play Desk
* All Work, All Play (from the adage - all work and no play makes Jack a dully boy)
* Fun Teams
* TeamPlay

Do keep us posted on this..I am sure it will make the day of many who despise dragging themselves to work every day and help transform their work hours into fun !

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Sat, 06/22/2013 - 20:28
#3
Word Nerd
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In Response

I'm not sure the world is ready for yet another dungeon-themed game; ditto for zombies and dinosaurs.

I'd like to develop this theme so that it can be used in almost any office setting, regardless of the nature of the business or operation involved. It may turn out that **some** game features will not be applicable in **some** office settings. Perhaps these could be deliberately left out by the players at their discretion, but the integrity of the design would have to remain intact to sustain playability.

Rather than focus on one feature of office activity (e.g. teamwork), I'd like to incorporate a wide variety of items.

Other game features I've considered so far include:

1. Deck Zone: a physical office location where players go to draw new cards. This might be the top of the water cooler, the receptionist's third desk drawer, or some other place.
2. Discard Zone: another physical location where players go to leave cards withdrawn from play.
3. Display Zone: a location or method whereby game information or cards are revealed to a player (or players) to facilitate play.
4. Player interaction: the cards in a player's possession guide them in interactions with other players and their cards. Interactions might be face-to-face or separated in time and/or space to preserve player anonymity or to create delays between play actions and reactions.
5. Scoreboard: a method by which players may record and display their game status.
6. Game Card attributes: captures/captured by, cancels/activates, combines with, discard if, score if, draw card if...

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Sat, 06/22/2013 - 21:05
#4
questccg
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In an *office* setting?

Are you talking about a game whose setting is in an *office*? Or are you specifically talking about making a game that people in *offices* would play?

I'm not certain which it is...

BTW I'm not certain many *bosses* would like to know their employees are using the office space for playing a game - even if it is after-hours.

You know that *games* are kinda frown upon - in general. Many people thing games are only for kids. Using an office setting is really pushing it... Although I admire people who know a lot about games (mechanics, themes, etc.), many people could view this as *infantile*...

That is not my opinion, growing up I played boardgames in school (during lunch), tabletop soccer and video games (at home or at a friend's home). But now that I am older I am less interested in playing as I am designing. I guess you do mature (personally) a little and say that too much gaming is for kids and adolescents, game designing is the opposite. You need to learn about games, mechanics, different themes, etc.

So I guess designing for me is the NEXT STEP.

But having people in offices playing - not sure I can picture this. But hey - I only found out not too long ago that there are BARS you can go to and geek out: play all kinds of boardgames from their collection.

One bar even hosts a Sunday for designers (thanks larienna - will check it out next month).

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Sat, 06/22/2013 - 22:09
#5
laperen
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@questccghe wants a game

@questccg
he wants a game that can be played in the office setting without hindering work

@Word Nerd
im not sure about your idea now though since you mentioned more info on what you have in mind. its a neat goal, but if the game is not for whimsy but to promote values it will probably get seen as another cooporate event to waste their time like a team bonding session

the only saving grace i suppose is that it does not take up as much immediate time, although it does give the player something extra to constantly worry about, assuming they care to play your game while being busy with their work already

someone bored of their time at work probably want some form of escapism, if not they would probably rather hide from their bosses and play some mobile game to pass the mundane free time at work until they get home

personally i would make something experiencial rather than ... , cause i think people at work have enough to worry about, they do not need another worry.

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Sun, 06/23/2013 - 20:08
#6
questccg
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AFTER HOURS!

laperen wrote:
he wants a game that can be played in the office setting without hindering work.

@laperen: Isn't that also contradictory? How can you play a game in an office setting. What I have heard of is players meeting AFTER HOURS and sitting together to play Poker (for money obviously). This was done in an office setting... And the bosses did not seem to mind.

The other option, if you are in a building that supports it, you could go to the cafeteria, smoke lounge or conference room. All of those places are a good setting to play a game.

But leaving cards at or near a *watercooler* and other such "zone" ideas, will probably lead to total chaos.

I think you can convince the boss to lend out one of his conference rooms after hours...

But playing during working hours... that I have never seen. And IMHO will lead to office chaos when people not playing will notice what other people are leaving cards and such... They will say: "I'm working and they are playing some sort of game?!" That can lead to some serious outrage...

I think then the players would turn to some poor guy and say: "It was HIS idea..." What comes next is obvious:
1-Either you get fired for unprofessional conduct.
2-You get a warning never to play again - but you can keep your job.

Depends on how many people got angry, how many people were disturbed, how the boss is feeling, and obviously your relation with all of those people.

But I wouldn't chance... My opinion is to find another setting for gaming (like a conference room, cafeteria or smoke lounge AFTER HOURS)...

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Mon, 06/24/2013 - 00:02
#7
questccg
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Assuming I play along...

I think you would need to forget using CARDS. They are not naturally found in an office setting.

If you are going to design a *sly* game of something, needs to be easy to disguise. Think of that Excel spreadsheet safety screen: when anyone comes along, you switch to that screen!

The *game* needs to have that. Fortunately there are many things in an office of value:

1-Standard sheets of Paper (8.5"x11")
2-Post-it notes
3-Pens
4-Staplers or paperclips
5-Highliters
6-Computers
7-Printers/Photocopiers

That should be what you need to *play* in an office setting. HOW do you play? Well I'm not sure, but if the deal is simple to bring some papers to another "player's" desk - that is VERY inconspicuous!

Now what you need is some kind of *game*. I managed the Hockey Pool at one of the companies I worked at. It was at lunch hour - but fun for players because they got to see their standings as the game progressed!

So you need something INCREMENTAL. Not saying it has to do with sports, that was just an example where the employees had fun watching how good they did in picking players (FYI the CEO of the company won the pool!)...

I don't know what your *THEME* is supposed to be, but I kinda like "Day Trader": The Office Game...

You play during the work day - WHENEVER somebody delivers you a *stack* of sheets. Once you *do your thing*, you then need to bring the stack to the next player, etc.

The next morning or during the night, you can post the results of standings (for example: at somebody's desk).

I think this CONCEPT is COOL. But you may disagree and I'm totally fine with that.

Just my 5 cents!

NOTE 2: Oh yeah and this sort of game can be for money also... Less than real trading, but some money always makes the game more interesting and filled with suspense...

NOTE 3: The *Game Master* (instead of a DM) may have a DECK of cards which he uses to "administer" the game... This could be a possibility. Having a deck of 50-60 cards is also very easy to hide from co-workers not involved in the game. BUT I would NOT spread them around... At the GMs desk, no further. The deck could be a sort-of Tarot deck which predicts the market trends and happening in the game...

NOTE 4: Each player can put in to play (like $5-$10), the winner takes all. Maybe the *Goal* of the game would be to become the 1st Millionaire (Day Trading)... This happens in a week or two.

NOTE 5: You could call it *Day Traitor*... There could be an element of thievery or deception...

NOTE 6: You could use the fact that PHOTOCOPIES of documents with Highlighter do not appear... So you can *hide* information, give false leads... Something along those lines.

Some more ideas, each player can *design* the role of the NEXT player in the game by creating 2 roles. How the roles are created are on Post-its. For example (on a post-it): Call Dr. Benjamin Frasier (416) 905-3231 (He is a dentist - so that player could be a dentist). I'm just thinking about the game and concepts around it... Take what you like.

You can buy into Residential properties and try to flip them to earn more money... Somebody has to be a Real Estate Agent... Just more thoughts (random rants).

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Sun, 06/23/2013 - 23:05
#8
laperen
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barking up the wrong tree dude

questccg wrote:
laperen wrote:
he wants a game that can be played in the office setting without hindering work.

@laperen: Isn't that also contradictory? How can you play a game in an office setting. What I have heard of is players meeting AFTER HOURS and sitting together to play Poker (for money obviously). This was done in an office setting... And the bosses did not seem to mind.
...

you are telling the wrong person, tell the author, i too raised my own concerns on that paradox in my own post, the one you quoted in fact

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Sun, 06/23/2013 - 23:06
#9
questccg
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My deepest apologies...

laperen wrote:
you are telling the wrong person, tell the author, i too raised the same concerns in my own post, the one you quoted

Sorry I did not intend to target you by the response...

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Mon, 06/24/2013 - 12:46
#10
Word Nerd
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Game Concept: The Office--More

In case anyone missed it:

"I recently read about how the unconscious mind keeps working on problems even while we are involved in other tasks (http://thetartan.org/2013/2/25/scitech/braindec)."

If you read the article, you know that I'm not looking for any kind of game where folks would have to gather anywhere for any duration of time in order to play. This would be disruptive and counter-productive. It is also unnecessary.

The point of the game is to perform the function of a "distractor" which temporarily displaces conscious focus on a strictly work-related problem. In this role, it allows the unconscious brain to continue processing the work-related problem or task for a moment before returning the matter to conscious consideration. Research suggests that this procedure enhances brain function and thereby increases overall productivity. In a commercial enterprise, this means greater profits.

Yes. The game is intended for play in a physical office setting. This is not a game with "an office theme" which is played at home around a table. The game will be played at work, during work hours, to improve brain function and increase productivity. It would not have the desired effect were it played in the office after work, or with co-workers in someone's home.

The game is something folks might think about from time to time during their workday, as they walk down the hall to a meeting, as they wait in line to use the microwave in the lunch room, or while waiting for a client to arrive. Perhaps once or twice a day, they might interact directly with a co-worker who is also playing the game. In moments such as these, they might temporarily digress from work-related tasks to perform some game task (refer to instructions on their cards).

At this point, I would like to extend kudos to those who have tossed in a few great ideas with the criticism. For example, I was already thinking of how to use typical office objects in the game, as well as representing their attributes with game cards.

And speaking of "typical" office objects, cards are one of the most ubiquitous items I can think of. Everyone in my office has a name card in or on their desk somewhere, and most also have name cards from other staff, clients or pizza delivery outlets. I have several decks of regular playing cards in a desk drawer beside me right now. The office is full of paper. And there's a photocopier. There's no reason why this couldn't be a print-and-play game.

Yes, I realise that having game materials stored or left somewhere might become a problem if there are juvenile, moronic assholes in the workplace. If this is the case, there's a more serious problem for that workplace than any problem with a game, in my opinion. Hopefully, players are working (and playing) with respectful, intelligent, mature people. Like you, reader.

Right now, I'm collecting ideas and writing everything down. Brainstorming. I'm not going to actually build anything until I've given my own brain time to work on this problem unconsciously. Who knows? Maybe I'll wake from a dream in the middle of the night with a flash of genius. Or maybe, I'll just be better-(brain)-prepared to focus consciously on the problem when I have a block of time to devote to it.

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