Grow-a-Game: Values at Play

Want to uncover the hidden messages in some of the world’s favourite games? Interested in learning some basics of game design?

Join us for this unique event in which you and other students will engage in some critical discussion about game design. You will also learn to grow your own game, one that reflects your values and your narrative, with an opportunity to work individually or with other students.

At the end of the program, you will have a deeper understanding about game design, a game of your own design, and a toolkit of resources to keep.

This is open to all students of all ages in all disciplines and degree levels at Ryerson University, though especially intended for students in the arts, humanities and social services. Students do not have to be technologically savvy, nor identify themselves as gamers to participate.

Registration link: https://tinyurl.com/y32xnzpf (external link) 

* No experience is required.

* No materials or software are required to participate, other than access to a computer, laptop or other device and wifi

This event is led by Keynote Facilitator, Tanya Pobuda, Game Designer and PhD Candidate, Communication & Culture. Supporting Facilitators are Ken Moffatt, Ryerson University Jack Layton Chair, and Cristina Pietropaolo, Folklorist and Ops Specialist, Ryerson University Collaboratory

This program is presented in partnership by Ryerson University Library and the Jack Layton Chair at Ryerson University.

Contact cpietropaolo@torontomu.ca with any questions.

About the Facilitators

Keynote Facilitator:

Tanya Pobuda is a board game designer, licensed drone pilot, artificial intelligence chatbot creator, and virtual and augmented reality (V practitioner. Her research on the board games has been featured in The New York Times, Analog Games Studies Journal, and various podcasts including Stuff Your Mom Never Told You About, The Spiel, Who What Why Podcast and Beyond Solitaire. Tanya has 26-year background as a former journalist, certified project manager, digital storyteller with a background in public relations, communication, marketing and web design. She is a PhD Candidate in the Communication & Culture program and works with the Centre for Digital Humanities and Ryerson University Library.

Supporting Facilitators:

Ken Moffatt is the Jack Layton Chair, an appointment to the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Community Services, and a professor at Ryerson University. He is interested in the effects of neoliberalism on policy and education; community-based social interventions; as well as critical reflective practice and pedagogy. His recent book, Postmodern Social Work: Reflective Education and Practice (Columbia University Press) is about practice and subjective engagement in the context of social and economic precariousness. He argues for arts based and narrative approaches to social justice.

Cristina Pietropaolo is the Operations Specialist at Ryerson University Library Collaboratory. She holds an MA in Folklore (Memorial University of Newfoundland) where she studies oral history from the lens of Italian immigrant women in the 1950s and 1960s and is currently pursuing a Master of Information (University of Toronto). Cristina’s current research revolves around book and zine publishing and printing practices. Her favourite tabletop games include Briscola and Reversi. She has been known to crush a lot of candies.