Games, Gamers, & Gaming: Gaming: Let’s Talk
Sep 15, 2011Libraries have clubs where a group gathers to discuss a book the members have all read. Why not have game clubs built on the same principles? This is the question posed by Aramis Troche after I opened a discussion on Twitter. Troche is a reference paraprofessional and library school student with five years’ experience running library gaming programs and a lifetime of experience as a hard-core gamer. His media cabinet is full of video games, and his guest closet is stuffed with board games.
Sure, games are fun to play, but they also merit consideration as art, narrative, and social commentary and in an exploration of game design theory. Troche outlined the recommendations assembled below for implementing such game discussion groups in a library.
Any gaming discussion club will need a leader familiar with the game who can pose meaningful questions. In book clubs, a librarian is on equal ground with others who have read the same book. Being adequately prepared to lead a discussion about a game title may require more time: reading blogs, forums, and reviews as well as having played the game(s) oneself. Proper preparation is important to success.
Possibilities to consider
Launching a new club will be different from redirecting the focus of a gaming group that already exists but has only been meeting to play. The accessibility of titles will vary, depending on whether your library circulates games, or if you just have a few games physically shared during events. Libraries with a computer lab or bank of laptops for online play have more options.
Will the games be played on the premises at the core event, or over time in advance, like reading a book at home before coming to the library? Can the library make extra game time available to members using the public computers? These are all possibilities you must consider.
As with most library programs, one size will not fit all. Explore the suggestions that match your circumstances and see what you might adapt. Above are Troche’s examples to ponder.
While these illustrations assume players are interested in electronic games, the same principles can be used for board game groups or for large-scale social impact gaming groups. Watch my blog at LibraryJournal.com for more on these concepts.
| Author Information |
| Liz Danforth, MLS, an Arizona-based part-time librarian who also works as a freelance game illustrator/designer/developer, writer, and library consultant, blogs at www.libraryjournal.com |
| TYPE OF GROUP | POPULAR OR TIMELESS VIDEO GAME TITLES |
| MEMBERS | Self-selecting—anyone who has played the title or is interested in it. |
| PROS | No expense. Any title on any system can be discussed. |
| CONS | Might be difficult to build a group of regular attendees. Consider rotating format for inclusivity (Xbox/Wii/PS3/PC/mobile). |
| POSSIBLE TITLES | L.A. Noire, Dragon Age 2, Child of Eden, Portal 2, Ico. Some series like Legend of Zelda, Resident Evil, Halo could be discussed game by game or as a franchise. |
| TYPE OF GROUP | TITLES FROM PREDEFINED GAMES CHOSEN FOR EXAMINATION |
| MEMBERS | Players interested in the game plus regular members of the discussion group. |
| PROS | Shows library embraces tech of interest to patrons. Exposes patrons to new media with which they may be unfamiliar. |
| CONS | Expense. Format issues (Xbox/Wii/PS3) if games are played in the library. Library must create a lending policy for games if none exists. Potential loss. |
| POSSIBLE TITLES | Greatest hits–type games like Bioshock, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Oblivion, Heavy Rain, any of the Orange Box games. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Orange_Box) |
| TYPE OF GROUP | FREE-TO-PLAY TITLES (WEB GAMES AND SOME MMOS) |
| MEMBERS | General interest players, various interests. |
| PROS | No expense. No compatibility concerns. A good option for libraries with computer/laptop labs. Club members might be given extended computer access (e.g., if members attended and contributed to a previous discussion, they receive a voucher for additional computer time to play the next game up for discussion.) |
| CONS | Limited scope of titles. Shallow games will limit depth of topics, so what gets chosen becomes doubly important. |
| POSSIBLE TITLES | Rebuild (on Kongregate.com), High Tea, Don’t Look Back, Pandemic 2, Flight. |
