Curriculum Games Explored

The following list outlines games that we explored in Education 4803.

There is a brief description of the game along with some links that provided additional background information, modifications, and related resources to each game.

Peter Suber's Nomic

Nomic is a strategic multiplayer game that focuses using rules in a systematic and self referential process. At the beginning of the game there is an established set of rules and as the game goes along, players take turns proposing amendments to these rules. All players become involved in the voting of these amendments, and similar to a legal system nomination, if rule succeeds with majority vote, the rule is integrated into the initial set of rules, and changes are set forth. [TD]]

A comprehensive biography of the inventor of Nomic. [TD]

Center for Ludic Synergy: http://www.ludism.org/

This site contains lots of resources on games and game theory in the world. The focus of this site is on the positive aspects of games, and it explores life as a game. The site makes reference and comments to the game of Nomic, and offers related resources and information as well. [TD]

Draga Nomic: http://www.angelfire.com/id/hgharris/index.html

An integration of Nomic and the popular game Dungeons and Dragons. [TD]

Duncan Richer's Nomic Page: http://www.dpmms.cam.ac.uk/~dcr24/Nomic/nomic.html

Another fantastic page of Nomic related information. Richer gives his ideas behind the game, and offers some useful links that includes several online Nomic games that are currently in progress. [TD]

Dvorak A Nomic Card Game  http://www.dvorakgame.co.uk/

The official website of the game Dvorak, a game similar to Nomic in which players begin with a set of blank cards that may be altered according to a theme or set of rules determined by the players. The site also includes a Deck Archive that new players can use to become familiar with the game. [MW]

Eleusis Nomic  http://www.nomic.net/deadgames/eleusis/eleusis.html

I think the title says it all! Although the game is officially closed due to lack of interest, the idea is a very interesting one. The game is very similar to regular Nomic, but involves secret rules (as in Eleusis). The site includes a complete listing of all of the rules and proposals that were used in this particular game. [MW]

Nomic A Game of Self-Amendment  http://www.earlham.edu/~peters/nomic.htm

This page consists largely of an alphabetized list of numerous Nomic links. Some examples are: Fourplay, Genomic, Nomiclature, Paranomic, and Solitaire Nomic. [MW]

This site offers many links to Nomic related material, as well as some information on the philosophy of self-amendment and its relationship to Nomic. [TD]

Nomic and Minic   http://users.aol.com/dmchess/www/nomic.html

After a brief introduction to Nomic, the author of this page presents Minic (a shortened name for Miniaturized Nomic). The initial set of rules is much shorter than the version of Nomic played in class, and can be found by clicking on a link on this page. Another link takes the reader to a snapshot of the Rules as of 1996/01/15, i.e. a look at the initial set of rules as well as the ones added through play in a particular game. [MW]

Nomic Net: http://www.nomic.net/

This site offers many resources and articles on the game of Nomic. As well as some links to get involved with the game online and other links to Nomic to explore. [TD]

Nomic-Like Games  http://www.nomic.net/~nomicwiki/index.php/NomicLikeGames

Provided on this page is a list of links to other Rule-changing Games, like Nomic. Students of Dr. Gary Hepburn may be amused to note that this page is a Wiki and can therefore be edited/added to by anyone! Besides rule-changing games, there are also links to pages about Political Games, such as Mafia, and Theoretical Games, such as the Prisoner's Dilemma. [MW]

Self-modifying Games Centre  http://www.ofb.net/~lisa/games.html

This page provides a list of links to thirteen different self-modifying games. Although few of the links seem actually to work, the list is a useful starting point on a hunt for games of this genre! Included are “Warthog” (a.k.a. Bartok and Mutant Crazy Eights), “Big Brother”, and “Egomania”. [MW]

Top 5 Voting Games  http://boardgames.about.com/cs/toppicks/tp/voting-games.htm

Part of the About Network, this page is one on the What you need to know about site (http://about.com). Just as Nomic is a voting game, so are Quo Vadis?, Democrazy, Werewolf, and The Big Idea, the other four games listed on the page. Included are a brief description of each game as well as links to the respective publisher's sites.  [MW]

Sydney Sackson's Game of Patterns

Sackson's game of patterns is a focuses on simulations and theories that can be applied to real world models. In his history Sydney Sackson has developed a variety of games both simple and abstract in nature. His death on November 6, 2002 left a remarkable contribution to the world of games both for educational and entertainment purposes.

This game incorporates inductive reasoning and strategies to develop patterns, for players to design and formulate between each other. One player will design a pattern, and the remaining persons have to guess the pattern through reasoning and strategies implemented through a question and answer set up. [TD]

This article offers a brief description of some of the motivations behind Sydney Sackson's games. There was an auction held in which the Sid Sackson's games were sold off and the author of the above article describes this auction. [TD]

Great Games of Sid Sackson: http://www.webnoir.com/bob/sackson.htm

This link discusses a variety of games that Sid Sackson developed in his past. It also talks about his death and his various contributions to the world of games from a historical perspective. [TD]

Sid Sackson Interview: http://www.webnoir.com/bob/sid/interview.htm

An exclusive telephone interview with Sid Sackson. He gives his perspective and ideas on playing games, and on inventing games. [TD]

Sydney Sackson's Games: http://www.gamersalliance.com/SSS.htm

This site offers a memoriam of Sydney Sackson, as well as a comprehensive list of his games, and some further reviews of these games. In the list, there are several descriptions and details of the procedures and methods for some of his popular games. [TD]

Biography of Sydney Sackson: http://star.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/cgi-bin/luding/AuthorData.py?f=00Q%5eE4W&authorid=74

A comprehensive biography of the lifes and times of Sydney Sackson including his family and work life. [TD]

Patterns: http://35.8.247.219/home/modules/pdf_modules/m70.pdf

A lesson plan for using Patterns in a science class [DAR]

Robert Abbot's New Eleusis and other games

Robert Abbot invented many useful logic mazes and games that could be easily used in the classroom.  The game of Eleusis emphasizes the processes involved with the scientific process.  Students learn how to build their own theories and use trial and error along with strategy to guess at other student’s theories.  The game also teaches students about logical reasoning and sequential thought processing. [TD]  

Another game developed by Abbot that is used to illustrate the concept of clarity. It is an abstract reasoning game that Abbot developed, where by players are motivated to look ahead, and are rewarded on their ability of how far ahead they can see in the game itself in order to generate thought for upcoming strategies. [TD]

Logic Mazes and Robert Abbot's Logic Mazes
http://www.logicmazes.com/ and http://www.logicmazes.com/games/index.htm

These two sites contain links to logic mazes, as well as an article describing the history of mazes. There is a link from Logic Mazes that gives several links to games of Robert Abbot's that deal with logic puzzles as well. Many of the puzzles described on this site could fit in with students of all age categories. [TD]

 Ultima: http://www.chessvariants.com/other.dir/ultima.html

This is another game invented by Robert Abbott and was published in the Recreational Mathematics Magazine in 1962. It is a variant of Chess whereby different pieces on the board have different authorities, even though the object of the game is still check mate. Ultima encourages strategy and multi level thinking, may be useful in an enriched class, or higher academic level course. [TD]

Eleusis: http://www.logicmazes.com/games/eleusis.html

Here is a site that offers some insight into the Eleusis game directly from Robert Abbott himself. [TD]

Eleusis: The game of predictions  http://www.nhn.ou.edu/~kieran/eleusis.pdf

This version of Eleusis is slightly different from the one we played in class. The roles of players in this game, for example, are The Rulemaker, the The Landau, Lab Rats, and Normal Players. Also included are a set of discussion/essay questions about the game; e.g., Did you ever discover a rule simpler than the Rulemaker's, and was very often right? Does this ever happen in scientific research? Give an example. [MW]

Auction: http://www.logicmazes.com/games/auction.html

Another of Abbot's card games. In this game you bid cards to obtain cards, much like a showdown. The object of the game is to get the highest combination of cards to go out. [TD]

Ludopath Eleusis Revamped: http://www.terra.es/personal2/u.roth/

This site is totally awesome for educator and others who want a twist on the game Eleusis and a look at some of the prominent figured in the games invention world. The site authors name is Ulrich Roth, and he redesigned Abbot's game of Eleusis by redesigning a deck of 192 cards to suit the original rules of Eleusis. As well there are other links to games Roth has created himself which encourage individuals to use multi levels of thinking, and logical reasoning skills. [TD]

Past Eleusis Games  http://web.periodic-kingdom.org/Activities/Eleusis/Games.php

Included on this page are a set of various examples of possible Eleusis rules (they are actually real rules created during Eleusis parties in 2002). The following rule, for example, was developed on October 5 by Daniel: Alternate red and black cards. The absolute value of the difference between each card and its predecessor must be a prime number or one. [MW]

Eleusis Nomic  http://www.nomic.net/deadgames/eleusis/eleusis.html

I think the title says it all! Although the game is officially closed due to lack of interest, the idea is a very interesting one. The game is very similar to regular Nomic, but involves secret rules (as in Eleusis). The site includes a complete listing of all of the rules and proposals that were used in this particular game. [MW]

Robert Abbott's New Eleusis  http://www.terra.es/personal2/u.roth/eleusis.htm

A very interesting page with pictures and a description of special Eleusis cards, which may be used instead of regular playing cards. Because the cards have several distinctive features, there exists the potential for a more interesting variety of rules. The cards, which picture famous people, vary according to: number, background colour, frame shape, picture colour (black and white if the person pictured on the card is dead; colour if he or she is alive), and gender. [MW]

More Eleusis Links  [DAR]

• http://www.netaxs.com/people/nerp/eleusis0.html
• http://www.pagat.com/eights/eleusis.html
• http://www.bio.ilstu.edu/Armstrong/biolab/scedphil/eleusis.htm
• http://www.nhn.ou.edu/~kieran/eleusis.pdf

Other Induction Games

Mao  http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/reviews/rev_2943.html

This site discusses a game called Mao in which the first and foremost rule is that you cannot state the rules. For this reason, to learn the game, one must either play it with someone who already knows how to play, or read examples of play. A link to a page with examples of play is provided, as is a concluding paragraph that tells the reader, The game is both clever and complex, successfully existing at multiple levels of play, comprehension, and strategy. [MW]

Zendo: http://www.wunderland.com/WTS/Kory/Games/Zendo/chapter7.html

Similar to Eleusis, but uses special playing pieces instead of cards. [DAR]

Word Games & Computer Generated Text

The use of word games and computer generated text can be an excellent addition to classrooms in any subject area, but especially in English classrooms to help students gain grammar skills. They promote fun and creativity, and can be used at various academic levels. [TD]

Madlits are a lot like Mad Libs. A person can select a story outline (known as a lit), enter in the words of their choice and a story is generated. These types of games can be a great teaching tool for teaching grammar and English to younger students, or even for older students who are under a English modified program. A major focus in education is literacy across the curriculum, so sites like this can be added into the classroom to help student’s literacy levels, but in a fun and engaging manner. As well you get the integration of technology, and if you could do a Mad Lit on weather which could be included in an environmental science lesson. [TD]

More Mad Lib style activities: http://www.eduplace.com/tales/

Designed for kids and teachers [DAR]

Shannonizer: http://www.nightgarden.com/shannon.htm

This is kind of an advanced idea of Computer Generated Text but an interesting site all the same. The Shannonizer Computer Generated Text is motivated by the work of Dr. Claude Shannon, who was a pioneer mathematician that studied electrical circuits and logical statements in the 30s. Dr. Shannon was published some of the earliest work on Mathematical Theory and Communication, and among his many findings he showed that communication (on computers and in general) contains much redundancy. He looked at the relationship between the message to be transmitted, and the amount of redundancy that was added to this message in order for it to be understood properly. Dr. Shannon showed that redundancy does exist in messages to make them meaningful; he took it to the English language. He proved that frequency of redundant words in sentences can be applied to randomly generated strings of text to make these strings meaningful as well. However, the redundant words will make the random text meaningful if and only if the as long as each word in the string of text has a high correlation with the word before it. It was from this finding the Shannonizer was established whereby word pairs and text are used to generate random meaningful messages. [TD]

Oulipo links

The Oulipo group has made word games into literature. Their works are a great source of ideas for creative writing games, and well as works of art. For example, Queneau constructed a booklet that can produce 10¹⁴ different sonnets!! [DAR]

• http://www.nous.org.uk/oulipo.html

Lots o' sonnets:

• http://x42.com/active/queneau.html
• http://www.growndodo.com/wordplay/oulipo/10%5e14sonnets.html
• http://www.bevrowe.info/Poems/QueneauRandom.htm
• http://www.wordengineering.net/ticker3.html

The Iterated Prisoner's Dilemma (TIPD)

The Iterated Prisoner's Dilemma is related to many issues in society, especially in behavioral and social science domains. The game deals with trust, competition, and cooperation that help in developing skills for interpersonal and intergroup relations. It also gives students a chance to build on their problem solving and decision making skills. [TD]

This article presents an interesting perspective on the ethics behind Prisoner's Dilemma. The author explains how the game is great at promoting cooperative learning and strategy building skills. [TD]

Cooperation and The Prisoner's Dilemma: http://www.susqu.edu/facstaff/b/brakke/complexity/LAVELLA/prisoner.htm

This paper looks at how games like Prisoner's Dilemma can help individuals in society learn cooperation skills. The author looks at how in society we are often faced with the question of when we should cooperation with others, and when is it better not to cooperate with others in an attempt to maximize our own desires. In relation to curriculum, this article supports the use of Prisoner's Dilemma  as a tool that can teach our students about good cooperation skills. [TD]

Curriculum & Prisoner's Dilemma: http://www.saddleback.cc.ca.us/div/la/neh/prisoner.htm

This site looks at how educators can use Prisoner's Dilemma in Humanities subjects such as: Political Science, Anthropology, History, Economics and Sociology. In the curriculum this game is very useful to behavioural and social science subjects as it is an engaging way to get information across all of the above noted subject areas. [TD]

Iterated Prisoner Dilemma: http://www.csu.edu.au/ci/vol3/yao_liu/node8.html

This site offers a description of playing The Iterated Prisoner Dilemma game with two persons. It shows a variant of the payoff matrix for two players, and offers some suggestions for strategies to play the game with two people. [TD]

Prisoner's Dilemma Online & Prisoner Dilemma Online _ 2
http://ucsub.colorado.edu/~danielsm/PD/PD.html and http://www.vex.net/~buff/pd.html

Two sites that give information to play the Prisoner's Dilemma Online. Both sites give a brief background of the game, as well as some addition links for resources online. The online game could be used in higher level education to integrate technology into the lesson behind the game as well. [TD]

More IPD links [DAR]

• http://www.lifl.fr/IPD/
• http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/PRISDIL.html
• http://www.miskatonic.org/pd.html
• http://www.patweb.com/game/
  
  
  :