Week 3 - Our game will be played next.

“Play relates to space through the ways of appropriation and the constant dance between resistance and surrender.”

Sicart, Miguel. Page 52

Our game which we refer to as “FourSquare Joker” or “Joker Square” or anything in between takes advantage of the playspace that traditional FourSquare has to offer and extends this out. This game can be played anywhere that involves a flat space that can be split into four reasonably-sized squares for the inner four players to stand. Our game is made to be accessible for many no matter where you are as long as you have a few balls and easily identifiable squares.

Our game could be said to have a sense of strategy if the players chose to do so. Inner four players can come up with a specific pattern of bouncing the ball back and forth to avoid the jokers at all costs. Alternatively, they could be competing within themselves in a way for who can be in the middle the longest. The overall goal after all is to remain in the game as long as possible. We have no determined end-game, the game ends when the majority of players feel it is time to end. It is a game that can be joined or left whenever. Theoretically it could go on forever.

“If, in soccer, all players really wanted to do was put the ball in the other team’s net, wouldn’t it be easier just to carry it there or maybe throw it?” Macklin and Sharp. Chapter 2.

We figured making the jokers have to throw the ball and bounce it once in between the inner four players adds a bit of a challenge to their side of things. It would be much easier for them just to throw the ball at someone or directly at the inner ball without considering the limitations. This is what makes the game more engaging for any player.

“...games are systems that dynamically generate play..” Macklin and Sharp. Chapter 1.

Our game never got around to being played this week so I can’t say for sure, but when we get to this next week I really expect some changes to be made by the players on the fly. They may go with the rules we provide and take it to another level as well as getting really competitive. I know for certain there are a few individuals that were pretty competitive at FourSquare when they were younger and maybe played the game while in school. Next devblog I will be mentioning how the gameplay went with our game.