Meaningful Play?

This past Thursday in my Game Design class, we participated in a classroom game with very simple objectives. We were split into teams of four and given a pack of bendable straws and a roll of scotch tape. Our goal was to create the highest possible structure that could stand on its on for at least three seconds, and the team that won the game would receive candy during next class.

It was a very fun experience, and this composition has to do with whether or not we experienced meaningful play through the game/exercise. Rules of Play basically defines meaningful play as the relationship between action and outcome which are both discernable and integrated into the overall context of the game. In the case of the Straw Tower game, I feel that we did in fact experience meaningful play, and I was amazed at how such a simple concept could create so many different variables into account.

From a basic overview of the game, it has many elements which created a unique experience. It required communication and almost necessitated that one or more individuals on each team to lead the others in the creation of the tower, either by demonstration or by explaining something as simple as how to easily fit two straws together. Time was also a factor, so it was almost essential to divide the work among different people, with each person completing a specific task.

Through the scope of meaningful play, action and outcome were obviously easily visible. Taping and connecting straws together showed an immediate physical result, and it was also integrated into the larger context of the game. The decisions made during the beginning of the game effected the end results. If the base for the tower is too big, you run out of straws. If the base is too small, you end up with a potentially beautiful tower that immediately falls on its side, thus disqualifying you and preventing your team from winning the game.

It's amazing how simple, yet at the same time complex, a game can be created with such few rules and materials. Next time you feel bored at home or have some friends over, throw straws at them and try your hand at this clever game!