What is the role of identity, narrative, and community in driving the popularity of contemporary games? This panel conversation examines current challenges and practices of game design.

PANELISTS
– Abdullahi Abdullahi, iFp Emerging Innovator, CRLS 10th Grade.
– Kyle Gordon, Portfolio & Strategy at PlayStation Studios, and 2022 MAD design fellow.
– Frank Pinto, game design teacher at Innovators for Purpose.
– T.L. Taylor, Professor of Comparative Media Studies, Director of MIT Game Lab.

MODERATOR
– Nebus Kitessa, MIT Senior, Mechanical Engineering & Product Design

This event was held on September 26, 2024, at the Ragon Institute, in Cambridge, MA, as part of MAD's annual Power of Design event, dedicated this year to the ways in which Design Transforms Learning. It was offered in partnership with Innovators for Purpose (iFp,‪@innovatorsforpurpose3499‬) and a part of the Cambridge Science Festival.

It was followed by a hands-on workshop activity which is not included in the replay.

Cambridge Science Festival is an innovative, week-long celebration of science in all its forms. This year’s festival comprises more than 250 free events and activities between Monday September 23 and Sunday September 29. Find out more at cambridgesciencefestival.org.

The MIT Morningside Academy for Design (MAD) is an interdisciplinary hub that celebrates the transformative power of design at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and beyond. It offers programs, fellowships, events, and resources for students and researchers to learn, innovate, and create. Learn more about MIT MAD at design.mit.edu.

KEY WORDS
Game design; Social interaction in games; Community building in gaming; Multiplayer experiences; Inclusivity in gaming; Online gaming communities; Game mechanics; Augmented reality games; Video game development; Board games and card games; Diversity in gaming; Player collaboration and competition; Emergent social behavior in games; Designing for player interaction; Harassment in online games; AAA narrative games; Strategy games; Call of Duty multiplayer; Clash Royale strategies; Pokemon Go social experience; Animal Crossing community; Marvel Snap card game; Player-created content; Gaming ecosystems; Yacht Club gaming experience; Tabletop games at Pax East; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; MIT