I will be leading a Game Design Workshop at CUNY this Spring. After a great session there back in November, it seems there is some interest in a longer class. Judging from all the great people who attended the November one-night workshop, this promises to be a fun group with a lot’s of interesting ideas.

Here’s the description:

Develop both the theoretical and practical tools necessary for analyzing and designing games. This course will focus largely on paper and physical based projects for a foundation in designing, playtesting and iteratively re-designing games. Projects will include designing card and board games; modifying and creating sports; and writing pitches and concepts for video games.

Participate in a series of design exercises, ranging from redesigning games to creating entirely new games. Class time will be focused around discussion and critique of games, as the framework for design and analysis. Students will also play specific games and do readings that will provide them with a theoretical perspective on games. Group work will be emphasized to design and refine ideas.

Classes start March 18, 2008
6:30pm - 9:15pm
The course is 5 sessions, from 6:30pm - 9:15pm
March 18, 25, April 1, 8 and 15, 2008

CUNY School of Professional Studies
at the Graduate School and University Center
365 Fifth Avenue at 34th Street

Mattia and I are running a game this weekend on Governor’s Island as part of the Figment Festival.

The game’s at 2 PM Sunday, July 8. Catch the ferry over and join the game. Ferries run every hour from 10am to 5pm from The Battery Maritime Building located adjacent to the Staten Island Ferry in Lower Manhattan.

Here are some photos from the game. We had roughly 25 people play. And I believe a good, sweaty, wet time was had by all.

Check out all the photos on here. Or just sample below.

Here they come to capture a the Informant.

On the move back to HQ.

Making sure the coast is clear.

Ambush!

Powering up to some Super Soakers.

Christmas in Florida, originally uploaded by gtrefry.

There’s a beautiful line in Tom Stoppard’s new play, The Coast of Utopia. The frazzled Russian literary critic, Belinsky, in the midst of ranting lays it out:

When philosophers start talking like architects, get out while you can, chaos is coming. When they start laying down rules for beauty, blood in the streets is from that moment inevitable.

I can think of no more appropriate words for this Election Day eve. We remain embroiled in an intellectuals war in which reality continues to rebuke the hubris of strong ideas and poor perception.

Florida, originally uploaded by gtrefry.