Fix #14

After several weeks of interacting in the world of the Settlers, I never truly put the thought in to having “god like powers”. The truth is, as powerful you may be in the game, there are still limitations that any god would not need to worry about.  However, since one aspect of gaming is the challenge, having true god like powers would not be as engaging.  If everything was free and built immediately, we would have finished along time ago, and would have not obtained the satisfaction (or frustration) that came with the long journey. 

Now exploring the god like powers of development, the Settlers is engaging through the concept of producing goods and strategy of war.

My personal growth through Settlers has fluctuated due to various miles stones.  There were times in the game where I accelerated due to a series of tasks that were accomplished closely together.  Perhaps I was near the end of a level, and completed an adventure that not only provided me with experience to jump to the next level, but offered me resources I needed to complete other tasks.  Furthermore, the obtaining of blue gems would aid in collecting additional resources, and the availability of more buildings would spike my interest to keep going.  However, there were weeks where I starred at that level gauge wondering if it would ever move.

Taking a Long View

At first starting the game, I had no intentions on every trying to reach the 50^th level.  As I completed the first few levels, my mind had changed due to how quickly I was able to level up at times.  Then the advanced levels hit and I began to second guess my long quest.  From the first time I placed a storage building, I did not consider the long term goals and how significant one building could be in the efficiency of resource collecting.  Perhaps part of this comes from the challenge of not being able to re-locate a storage building.  As you can relocate resource buildings, you cannot move mines and storage.  Therefor, strategy plays a huge part in minimizing the time it takes for the people to get the resources into inventory.  The opposite end of this is knowing that the resources get to storage faster means you may be spending more time sending the explorer out to find new mines again.  If you log on several times a day, it is much easier to keep this in check.  If you visit once a day, your minds may be gone and have sat this way for some time.  The point is that to play god, you must be there all the time, something that very few of us can realistically do.

Ecosystems Thinking

Many aspects of Settlers come to mind for this concept.  The “complex web” of resources needed to build buildings to get more resources to get more building is an endless cycle.  Furthermore, the resources to make buffs to increase resources quickly, just to reapply them to the original resources can seem counter intuitive at times.  You need to think, you need to strategize, you need to prioritize.  I found myself actually doing calculations on values of resources in order to get the better deal while trading, and ensure I was not losing out on my end.  The web extends far past the island and the interconnection and series of production components.  The working together in adventures connects the islands in some ways, making many colonies rely on reaching the same goal and obtaining the needed resources.

Pilot Experimentation

As strategy guides are available to follow, the challenge of experimentation has proven to be beneficial over the step by step instructions provided by other players.  In some cases, these guides were very helpful in learning how the various components of the game are played, but true strategy comes from evaluation and determination, much like playing chess.  With that said, trial and error was one part of my experience that took some time to figure out.  Next was testing out the various attack strategies such as blocking that sometime proved to be efficient.  I also considered the pay-off for upgrading mines that would eventually be destroyed unless I continued to fill them back up.  One example was the use of gems to refill an iron mine.  Is it worth upgrading and filling these mines, knowing you lose your gems, or do we remain patient and let nature takes its course?

Naturally, learning how actions can lead to long term success or failure is a true lesson learned from a game such as Settlers.  The ripple effect of one small pebble in a pond can also make one wonder how each decision in a game, or life may impact the outcome.

Looking into education, I consider this idea to be most relevant.  Take for instance the first day of class.  Often, decisions are made the first day by a student that will carry out into the duration of the course.  It is because of this, that course introductions and learning outcomes are clear from the start, otherwise, the student may not be searching for the right answers that lead them to success throughout the course.

Concepts that McGonigal touched on that are most memorable include Fix #14 and the idea that games help us to shape the future.  It is fun to think ahead when you know that it is only a game, but in reality, the pain of failure may be more evident. The discussion of “Superstruct” also reminds me of a sort of Strategic Planning Committee that I have served on in several roles of my career.  Planning ahead with realistic goals that are achievable is part of any organizations success.  Why not apply it to the planet? Unique strengths are the key to success.  As discussed before, collaboration can empower us to accomplish more.  In addition, each part of the team can contribute their own superpower to the whole, thus adding value.  I like to think of it as the movie Avengers.  The characters don’t always get along, but together they are able to make a difference.