Blog Entry #1 - Starting Papers, Please

Game Summary:

• Developed by Lucas Hope and published by 3909. Papers, Please is a border patrol simulator
• Papers, Please takes place in the communist state of Arstotzka that has just ended a six-year war with the neighboring Kolechia and reclaimed is rightful half of the border town, Grestin. The player assumes the role of an immigration inspector. 
• It is the player's job to control the flow of people entering Arstotzka and make sure no spies, smugglers, and terrorists make it pass the border. The player uses documents provided by travelers and the ability to use inspect, search, and fingerprint systems to determine who enters Arstozka and who is turned away or arrested.
• This game mostly appeals to players who enjoy problem solving and gathering information to make decisions within the games

Play Session #1

The first thing I noticed was the two game mode options. Story Mode and Endless. Being new to the game I picked story mode to start. It's nice for a game to have a endless mode that way there is more replay ability. 

After playing for about two hours, I noticed some things. On the surface, the game seems very simple. Check the passport and determine who goes in and who doesn't, however. However, when you actually play the game, it is a very complicated process. For example, I let a person through the border after I thought all the information was correct just to find out that their height was different in person compared to what the documents said. Thus, I got issued a citation. 

I would describe this first play session as pleasantly frustrating. The game kept making me feel like I knew what I was doing and then I would get issued a citation. Even though I thought I checked the important information. When I actually let the correct people in it was a pleasant feeling. It made me feel smart as I was able to read all this information and determine if it is valid or not. I still suck at the game, but I think the more I play it the more I'll continue to understand all the ins and outs of the system.

Principles of Learning:

Empowering Learners - Clear goals and Clear Roles:

• This principle focuses on inviting players to assume the roles of a different person
• This game does this well by giving you a clear role and a clear goal. You are a immigration inspector and you make sure the right people go in and the wrong people stay out.
• The game makes you commit to this role because you have a family to take care of as well which servs as your invitation to engross yourself in this character.
• "I need to do my job well enough to feed my family."

Problem-Based Learning - Pleasantly Frustrating:

• When the problem is challenging but the player knows that if they put in the effort they will succeed.
• It applies to this game because every person you inspect isn't impossible. If you take the time and inspect thoroughly you yield better results. That's why it's frustrating when you forget to check that one piece of information. However, it doesn't stress you out, it encourages you to be more thorough next time.

Deep Understanding - System Thinking:

• Players need to understand the complex systems in order to solve the problems
• As the game progresses, the inspection process gets more complicated. The first level is only checking one thing. The game continues to add more rules and more inspections. The player has to understand every single one so they can let the right people through the border.

Final Thoughts:

If we were to use this game as a way to learn. I believe it would be a good tool for information gathering and problem-solving students. This game tests your ability to analyze and collect information.