When considering what to teach for the game, I thought that soft skills would be a better takeaway then knowledge. Before creating a teaching game, I felt that knowledge games felt too forceful of a game as I always lacked intrinsic motivation to play them myself. My problem with serious games was finding a balance between gameplay and education. I knew that the challenge would be to create an environment where these skills could be taught in a fun setting.
To make people better roommates, we knew that fellowship had to be one of the core aesthetics of the game. Thus, in Roommate Beef, cooperation and challenge were key, reflecting real-life shared living dynamics. Players managed cleaning places and shared tools while facing unpredictable personality and event cards that introduced the chaos of everyday life. These mechanics effectively highlighted the balance between individual needs and roommate responsibilities. Moreover, players quickly realized that clear communication was essential when managing shared responsibilities, such as deciding who would clean which area or negotiating the use of a limited resource like a broom or vacuum. The personality cards, in particular, highlighted the importance of understanding and accommodating different temperaments and habits, teaching empathy and patience.
Watching others play the game was a rewarding experience. It was fascinating to observe how differently each group approached the same challenges—some discussed all their actions before moving, while others embraced the chaos and worked on the fly. I was proud when players picked up an event card I’d written and laughed, knowing my creativity brought them joy. While I still need to refine the balance between serious outcomes and fun gameplay, this felt like a step in the right direction. Instead of aiming for players to say, “I learned XYZ,” I want the learning to happen subconsciously through engaging gameplay. With Roommate Beef, I achieved this to some extent, but I aim to deepen the complexity in future games to make them even more enjoyable.
