Game Host Role

The game host plays a very important role: You bring energy, facilitation, and know-how -- to both the gameplay and debrief. 

Watch this 3-minute video to hear from a librarian and a teacher who have used the game. 

Bring your energy

• Have fun! Your energy can have a big impact on the energy of the game.

• Read the opening mission statement with your best acting voice! Get your players into the mood of the game. 

• Mention you are available for help, if needed, but that you won't give them the answers.

• Encourage friendly competition. Teams want to be the first to solve the game.   

• Walk around the tables, observe progress, keep it lively. 

• Celebrate when players accomplish puzzles or game levels. In most games, there is more than one packet for the game host to hand to teams as they progress through the game.

• Nudge players in the right direction and provide hints if they struggle, always with a smile.

• Write down the completion times for each team, and announce the winners.

Giving hints

One of the responsibilities of the game host is to nudge players in the right direction if they struggle. You can do this by providing hints, but the question is when to provide them!

You don’t want to provide too many hints too frequently or too early, as player satisfaction is greatest when they are able to figure out things on their own. Remember, a core learning goal is that the complex information environment is...complex! You want people to experience that challenge. Remember, you know the answers so it'll seem obvious to you. In general, we recommend providing minimal hints.

It’s important for players to have fun - remember that this is a game. Recognizing the line between positive struggling and frustrated struggling is the art of being a good game host. If you detect frustration due to being lost or stuck, feel free to provide a hint to get them in the right direction!

Keep an eye on the time - Most of our games are designed to be completed in about 30-45 minutes. Move people along so that the game can be completed within the time you have allotted, making sure to leave sufficient time for the debrief. 

All games end with a debrief. This is the point at which most learning occurs so it is very important to leave sufficient time for this activity. The debrief allows players to process what happened during the game, share their reactions, and learn from their peers.

As the facilitator, your main role is to elicit people’s opinions and allow others to carry the conversation. The goal is to encourage peer-to-peer sharing and learning. 

You should also use your knowledge as the game host to answer questions, provide guidance, and share your own point of view and experiences. This is especially important if someone is sharing misleading or going off track.

You should allot at least 15 minutes for the Debrief, with more time preferred.