|
Play as friends, not as
enemies! These games foster the spirit of
co-operation. Players help each other climb a mountain, make a
community, bring in the harvest, complete a space exploration... They
are never against each other.
After all, the initial impulse to
play a game is social; that is, we bring out a game because we want to
do something together. How ironic then that in most games, we spend all
our efforts trying to bankrupt someone, destroy their armies — in
other words, to get rid of one another! We soon learn how to pick on the
other person's weaknesses in order to win the game.
Let's take an example.
A simple, common party game for socializing youngsters illustrates
our point. Musical Chairs fosters aggression and elimination. Played
co-operatively (see our Games
Manual), you will see how hugging replaces
pushing, how ability and strength are used to help rather than push out
of the way.
People of different ages and
abilities should be able to play side by side, each making their best
contribution. In a co-operative game, someone young and little can play
with others older and bigger and not worry about being wiped out. We are
all there at the end of it.
Some cautions.
We don't protect children from not making it to the summit or completing
the space voyage. Our games are designed to offer realistic challenges.
But the cultural habit of competing and confronting adversaries runs
deep. Some players end up fighting the game itself. We suggest that
you'll get better results learning how to get along with Time, Winter,
Gravity, and Mountains rather than fighting them.
Aside from all these serious
considerations, some people just want to share an enjoyable and
challenging time with friends. We feel that co-operative games will
prove to be that friendly form of fun.
The challenge.
In sum, games are used in various settings and for various reasons,
Socialization, entertainment, academic learning, character growth, etc.
Whatever your objective, we invite you to realize them by co-operative
means. Parents and teachers trying to teach children to share, be kind
to living things, and help others out often are troubled by games and
recreation programs which undermine these values. Our games provide the
opportunity to experience sharing and caring behavior. We simply don't
have enough of such experiences. |
