My goal, to explain what I mean by goals

So over on 20x20 its been pointed out that I need to define better by what I mean by Goals and Objectives. Now this is very reasonable and I really should have done this before now. I've been rather jumping around in the process and I should take the time to discuss my first principles more.

But I'll be honest; I'm having trouble defining this in writing. Which may just mean my mind is fried from a morning of crazy work.

The general rule I've always been taught and followed about goal writing can sort of be modified to fit gaming as follows:

1. Write the goal down


2. Brainstorm to identify the things needed to be demonstrated to achieve the goal


3. Sort through the stated activities and select those that best represent the goal


4. Incorporate the activities into a statement that describes what the game will do


5. Evaluate the resulting statement for its clarity and relationship to the original fuzzy notion.

Basically a game goal is a clear statement of what the game will demonstrate I.e., what shared imaginative space it will create. That’s why they should form the foundation for all subsequent game design activities.

Maybe this post is writing itself. So other than an example or three what else do folks need for this to make sense to them? Do I need to delve deeper into success criteria for example?

Your playstations kill people

I once ran a very successful game called Pantellos. It is article like this that made that game so easy to run on several levels..

Oh, and the reason why this invasion was so profitable? Global demand for coltan was soaring throughout the war because of the massive popularity of coltan-filled Sony Play stations. As Oona King, one of the few British politicians to notice Congo, explains as we travel together for a few days, "Kids in Congo were being sent down mines to die so that kids in Europe and America could kill imaginary aliens in their living rooms."

I wish we had kept more of a website presence of that game.

I know that game was a political eye-awakener for me. Ever since I've been more keyed into issues in Africa amongst other things.

Games as political allegory is one of those things I really should write more about.