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Multiplayer Module Instructions and Diary Questions

Introduction So many modern games focus on competitive multiplayer, but the gaming industry also features a healthy number of cooperative multiplayer games. In this module, you and another person will play through intense, cooperative adventures. While some games have you compete against the clock - in Overcooked, for example, you must cook dishes for customers with a deadline - others have you play through an entire 8-hour campaign together. While this module could theoretically be completed alone, we strongly recommend having a second player – classmate, roommate, significant other, whoever – available for the duration of this module. Assigned Readings -anderson interconnected world -avard climate change cooperation -Dolgov Cooperation -Hoke against raising kids to thrive -Jerabeck & Ferbuson cooperation paper -mcadams cooperation -The New Childhood – Jordan Shapiro Game Options Note: Students in this module will choose to play either A Way Out, or to play BOTH Overcooked 2 and Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes. A Way Out Summary: In this cooperative experience, two players work together to break out of prison. Theoretically, you could play through the game alone, but it is meant to be played on the couch with two players side-by-side. A Way Out is an action/adventure game where players solve puzzles and conquer obstacles asymmetrically. The concept itself is unique, as players must consistently work together to solve puzzles specifically designed for two players. Normally, this sort of game would be a single-player game, but developer Hazelight Studios specifically attempted to create a single-player experience for two players. Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes Summary: In this game, players must print out a physical bomb defusal guide in order to play. The game here works cooperatively, where one person defuses the bomb and the other player reads the instructions off the defusal guide. The trick? Neither player is permitted to see what the other player is looking at. So, the communication is wholly verbal. This experience is made even more tense as the bomb’s alarm creeps slowly closer to zero. Keep your wits cool in order to defuse all the bombs in Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes. (continued on next page)

Overcooked 2 Summary: This is, in my view, the best Cooking-mama type of game out there. You play cooperatively in a hectic kitchen, trying to prepare dishes to the satisfaction of your customers. You must work together verbally to ensure dishes come together. While making a hamburger, for example, one player will need to chop the vegetables while another player fries the patty. Without cooperation, your recipes will fall apart. Meanwhile, platforms are moving around, and countertops will light on fire. It’s a crazy and fun disaster. This is the type of game you and a partner could play for hours on end; its addicting level design keeps you saying: “just one more level.” Reading Diary Questions 1) The author in The New Childhood has an argument that new tech and games are similar to new

inventions of the past. In fact, he strongly compares video games to playing outside or playing in a sandbox. First, say whether you agree with his argument or not. Then, take three specific examples/points he makes to support his argument (with quotes) and either say why you agree with these points or why you disagree.

2) The readings talk about the various ways humans interact when playing games cooperatively.

Choose four specific points made throughout the readings about these social interactions and give examples of how you experienced them personally when playing cooperative games in this module.

3) Read the studies conducted about cooperative gaming. Give three specific examples that you

think the researchers did well in terms of running their study. These things should help validate their findings. Then, give two specific examples on ways the research could have been improved to get more valid results.