The Research Group
Let's Create a Card Game! Stone, Staffordshire
Let's Create a Card Game! Stone, Staffordshire
In 2023 a grass-roots community group was created in Stone, Staffordshire, in collaboration with Dr David White from Staffordshire University. The aim of the group was to create a board or card game with the purpose of being fun to play, but also educational, encompassing the themes of our environment, wild ecosystems and environmental change.
In 2023 a grass-roots community group was created in Stone, Staffordshire, in collaboration with Dr David White from Staffordshire University. The aim of the group was to create a board or card game with the purpose of being fun to play, but also educational, encompassing the themes of our environment, wild ecosystems and environmental change.
The research project followed a pilot study at the Potteries Museum in Stoke-on-Trent in which a computer game simulation of marine life demonstrated the effects of global warming and marine pollution (see White)
The research project followed a pilot study at the Potteries Museum in Stoke-on-Trent in which a computer game simulation of marine life demonstrated the effects of global warming and marine pollution (see White)
The game, although intended for all, would have a key audience in schools, and so would be aimed at children aged 10-15 years old. It has been recognised that climate change is under-taught in schools, and this research project would provide suitable classroom content, and would also address growing 'eco-anxiety' recorded in young people (see the University of Bristol Policy Document)
The game, although intended for all, would have a key audience in schools, and so would be aimed at children aged 10-15 years old. It has been recognised that climate change is under-taught in schools, and this research project would provide suitable classroom content, and would also address growing 'eco-anxiety' recorded in young people (see the University of Bristol Policy Document)
The group collected public perceptions of climate-change and board- and card-games. The data found a positive response to these games - they are simple, low-cost, and bring family and friends together. It was also found that competitive games were more attractive than a 'collective' (i.e. working together for a common cause), which posed an interesting dilema, given the main theme - essentially, there's nothing more fun than ruthlessly beating your opponents!
The group collected public perceptions of climate-change and board- and card-games. The data found a positive response to these games - they are simple, low-cost, and bring family and friends together. It was also found that competitive games were more attractive than a 'collective' (i.e. working together for a common cause), which posed an interesting dilema, given the main theme - essentially, there's nothing more fun than ruthlessly beating your opponents!
A card game format was chosen as it was simple to reproduce, reduced the complexity of rules and had a minimal setup time. Players, or optionally teams, would have the aim of building a complete ecosystem - a pyramid structure of lower-order to higher-order species. Players can hinder their opponents by stealing their cards, or inflicting environmental disasters. These actions in turn can be defended with cards promoting sustainable, positive, long-term environmental strategies.
A card game format was chosen as it was simple to reproduce, reduced the complexity of rules and had a minimal setup time. Players, or optionally teams, would have the aim of building a complete ecosystem - a pyramid structure of lower-order to higher-order species. Players can hinder their opponents by stealing their cards, or inflicting environmental disasters. These actions in turn can be defended with cards promoting sustainable, positive, long-term environmental strategies.
Last updated 21st February 2024, 18:17