Games+Learning+Society 12 Conference

Writing a documented argument, on the one hand, and game design and development, on the other, are in many respects, kindred endeavors. Both projects require investigating experiences or phenomena, studying causes and effects, drafting and revision, rhetorical analysis of readers/players, and internalization and application of formats and best practices corresponding to the genre. Add to a research and documentation component to the game development process, and the nature of the two types of classroom activities become virtually interchangeable. The lingering difference lies in the respective final product. The paper accomplishes its purposes through argument supported by logic; the game, learning by immersion. This Presentation Showcasecases tabletop games designed and developed in a face-to-face freshman composition class as well as the documentation of their journeys.