How Breaking Games is running retailer friendly Kickstarters
Summary:
What Breaking Games is doing to make its Kickstarter campaigns more Retail Friendly. By getting retailer input on our plans - we hope to continue to increase Kickstarter benefits for Retailers.
Learn how to add game elements to most any topic to increase learning. You will also work on developing/gamifying one topic of your choice with mentor feedback.
Description:
If you teach or have work projects that you'd like to gamify (either adding game elements to it or turning it outright into a game), this is the session for you! We'll be walking through how to add game elements to most any topic to add a bit (or a lot!) of fun and to increase learning. As part of this session, you'll also work on developing/gamifying one topic of your choice so you have something right as you come out! Instructors are Dave Tomczyk, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Game Design, and Tejas Kumar, Software Engineer at Vanessa Research and Game Developer for Quinnipiac University's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
As one of the fundamental things our brains are hard-wired for, language in games can be fun & enriching for players. Why are languages fun to play with, & how can we better use them in design?
Learning from Gamers: How Design Thinking helps foster game programs
Summary:
This presentation will focus on how the Chicago Public Library is using Design Thinking to better design game events that appeal to emerging adults especially.
Description:
This presentation will focus on how the Chicago Public Library is using Design Thinking to better design game events. By hosting a permanent board game collection at our central location, we maintain that every night can be a game night at the library. However when it comes to designing an event, we must account for the fact that people host game nights at home, so how do we get them to view the library as a worthwhile destination for gaming? Further, how do we incorporate the game development community of Chicago into our programs and our communities to help our library stay up to date with game offerings?
Mental Roadblocks: How Your Brain Can Keep You from Making Wise Financial Decisions
Summary:
Learn to overcome some common geek themes: “The Curse of Knowledge”; “Too Smart for my Own Good”; “Too Clever by Half”.
Description:
“The Curse of Knowledge”; “Too Smart for my Own Good”; “Too Clever by Half”. As geeks, we probably have heard these expressions in our careers, and have learned to compensate, adapt, or overcome these mental roadblocks in our professional settings. However, many of us have not been able to transform those lessons of overcoming mental roadblocks in our personal lives, ESPECIALLY when it comes to personal finances. Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a secure and comfortable financial future. However, it turns out that it’s actually a pretty tough thing to do. It seems our mind keeps getting in the way. But what if you better understood these mental roadblocks? What would you be able to do with this new knowledge? More to the present, where would you even begin? As our Saturday morning cartoon hero says, “Knowing is half the battle.”
In this workshop you will use game play for networking, speed dating and socialization. Investigate the lessons learned of interacting with individuals that you commonly don't interface with.
Networking: Using Outside Professionals to Expand Your Reach
Summary:
Learn how to connect your clients to professional services they may need, build a real feeling of community, and market your store through joint sponsored events.
Description:
Gamers run into three main issues, impacting Game Store Owners (GSOs): Not enough money to buy games they want; Not enough time to play the games they have; Too worried about work/budget/cash flow to enjoy the games they do play. Libraries and educators also want to increase traffic, and connect more with their community. With the "Rise of Geekdom", many gamers are career-minded individuals that want to slay the occasional dragon. There are people in your community who want to meet these people, help them reach their goals, and share the same interests. Jeff Riegle is an independent financial adviser, backed by Waddell & Reed. As avid gamer, Jeff wants to help GSOs, Libraries, and Educators learn how to reach out, qualify, and harness these community members and their services.