some of my earliest in fondest memories are of playing games you see I grew up
are of playing games you see I grew up
are of playing games you see I grew up in the African nation of Tanzania which
in the African nation of Tanzania which
in the African nation of Tanzania which in a little more context I’ve been
in a little more context I’ve been
in a little more context I’ve been excluded from the world economy on the
excluded from the world economy on the
excluded from the world economy on the basis of its president Julius Nyerere a
basis of its president Julius Nyerere a
basis of its president Julius Nyerere a statement that he would not let his
statement that he would not let his
statement that he would not let his friends choose his enemies so I built
friends choose his enemies so I built
friends choose his enemies so I built mud castles for my entire soldiers and I
mud castles for my entire soldiers and I
mud castles for my entire soldiers and I dug little racetracks from my matchbooks
dug little racetracks from my matchbooks
dug little racetracks from my matchbooks Matchbox cars and I taught games like
Matchbox cars and I taught games like
Matchbox cars and I taught games like connect for and you know to my Tanzanian
connect for and you know to my Tanzanian
connect for and you know to my Tanzanian friends there wasn’t a lot of
friends there wasn’t a lot of
friends there wasn’t a lot of electricity I didn’t have a television
electricity I didn’t have a television
electricity I didn’t have a television screen in my home until I was a teenager
screen in my home until I was a teenager
screen in my home until I was a teenager and so creative fun was a staple of my
and so creative fun was a staple of my
and so creative fun was a staple of my childhood especially with others now my
childhood especially with others now my
childhood especially with others now my family has always loved games games with
family has always loved games games with
family has always loved games games with dice games with cards board games and so
dice games with cards board games and so
dice games with cards board games and so my game education progressed from the
my game education progressed from the
my game education progressed from the simple games of Candyland and so on to
simple games of Candyland and so on to
simple games of Candyland and so on to the more complex life Monopoly Scrabble
the more complex life Monopoly Scrabble
the more complex life Monopoly Scrabble Yahtzee and then on to the adult games
Yahtzee and then on to the adult games
Yahtzee and then on to the adult games of hearts and spades and the
of hearts and spades and the
of hearts and spades and the little-known
little-known
little-known Texan domino game of 42 like I said
Texan domino game of 42 like I said
Texan domino game of 42 like I said sitting around the table with my family
sitting around the table with my family
sitting around the table with my family always brought me joy and it was a lot
always brought me joy and it was a lot
always brought me joy and it was a lot of fun I learned a lot of lessons
of fun I learned a lot of lessons
of fun I learned a lot of lessons playing games as well and and that’s why
playing games as well and and that’s why
playing games as well and and that’s why I want to talk about that today you see
I want to talk about that today you see
I want to talk about that today you see as a teacher I’ve seen the benefits
as a teacher I’ve seen the benefits
as a teacher I’ve seen the benefits learning how to play games has for
learning how to play games has for
learning how to play games has for students the British professional golfer
students the British professional golfer
students the British professional golfer Stephen Potter created a new word in
Stephen Potter created a new word in
Stephen Potter created a new word in 1947 he called it gamesmanship and this
1947 he called it gamesmanship and this
1947 he called it gamesmanship and this word quickly became popular in the UK
word quickly became popular in the UK
word quickly became popular in the UK and then it spawned on the words like
and then it spawned on the words like
and then it spawned on the words like sportsmanship that I’m sure you know his
sportsmanship that I’m sure you know his
sportsmanship that I’m sure you know his idea with gamesmanship as he as he
idea with gamesmanship as he as he
idea with gamesmanship as he as he termed it was the art of winning without
termed it was the art of winning without
termed it was the art of winning without actually cheating now there are a lot of
actually cheating now there are a lot of
actually cheating now there are a lot of important social lessons to be learned
important social lessons to be learned
important social lessons to be learned from games in order that you’d be
from games in order that you’d be
from games in order that you’d be successful when you interact with others
successful when you interact with others
successful when you interact with others the most important of which is of course
the most important of which is of course
the most important of which is of course how to lose without flipping out or
how to lose without flipping out or
how to lose without flipping out or bored over and then how to win without
bored over and then how to win without
bored over and then how to win without gloating and then making no one never
gloating and then making no one never
gloating and then making no one never want to play with you again now I’ve
want to play with you again now I’ve
want to play with you again now I’ve seen this in action in schools because
seen this in action in schools because
seen this in action in schools because as a teacher I’ve participated in and
as a teacher I’ve participated in and
as a teacher I’ve participated in and started many gaming class now the only
started many gaming class now the only
started many gaming class now the only gaming club that was available to me
gaming club that was available to me
gaming club that was available to me when I was a student was the Chess Club
when I was a student was the Chess Club
when I was a student was the Chess Club and that’s that’s not what I’m talking
and that’s that’s not what I’m talking
and that’s that’s not what I’m talking about what I’m talking about here now is
about what I’m talking about here now is
about what I’m talking about here now is is more creative games games that bring
is more creative games games that bring
is more creative games games that bring people together from all over the globe
people together from all over the globe
people together from all over the globe here it just we have a card game that
here it just we have a card game that
here it just we have a card game that plays every Friday at a teachers room
plays every Friday at a teachers room
plays every Friday at a teachers room and draws dozens of students you can see
and draws dozens of students you can see
and draws dozens of students you can see them here playing on their lunch break
them here playing on their lunch break
them here playing on their lunch break and I myself am the rather reluctant
and I myself am the rather reluctant
and I myself am the rather reluctant supervisor of the judges in Dragons club
supervisor of the judges in Dragons club
supervisor of the judges in Dragons club which meets in my room weekly as well
which meets in my room weekly as well
which meets in my room weekly as well now in these sorts of international
now in these sorts of international
now in these sorts of international school context students come from all
school context students come from all
school context students come from all over and when a new student arrives and
over and when a new student arrives and
over and when a new student arrives and finds a club like this they find a
finds a club like this they find a
finds a club like this they find a setting in which they can bring their
setting in which they can bring their
setting in which they can bring their knowledge in their skill base and
knowledge in their skill base and
knowledge in their skill base and immediately find ability to demonstrate
immediately find ability to demonstrate
immediately find ability to demonstrate excellence in a social context these
excellence in a social context these
excellence in a social context these game cups provide community and they
game cups provide community and they
game cups provide community and they create connections between these
create connections between these
create connections between these students now I have a lot of games I’ve
students now I have a lot of games I’ve
students now I have a lot of games I’ve bought a lot of them and I actually came
bought a lot of them and I actually came
bought a lot of them and I actually came here this morning from rugby practice
here this morning from rugby practice
here this morning from rugby practice because I also coached the boys Farsi
because I also coached the boys Farsi
because I also coached the boys Farsi rugby team so I like to play in all its
rugby team so I like to play in all its
rugby team so I like to play in all its forms but there is a game that I like
forms but there is a game that I like
forms but there is a game that I like most and in Zimbabwe where I was a
most and in Zimbabwe where I was a
most and in Zimbabwe where I was a teacher for four years I started another
teacher for four years I started another
teacher for four years I started another Club for students and for adults now
Club for students and for adults now
Club for students and for adults now this is for a game that’s my favourite
this is for a game that’s my favourite
this is for a game that’s my favourite game but it’s not very broadly known and
game but it’s not very broadly known and
game but it’s not very broadly known and if I’m honest it’s a game about which
if I’m honest it’s a game about which
if I’m honest it’s a game about which I’ve always been a little embarrassed
I’ve always been a little embarrassed
I’ve always been a little embarrassed you see this game is called
you see this game is called
you see this game is called melodramatically I know
melodramatically I know
melodramatically I know Warhammer now this is a tabletop
Warhammer now this is a tabletop
Warhammer now this is a tabletop strategy game that involves tiny figures
strategy game that involves tiny figures
strategy game that involves tiny figures now it’s really more than a game because
now it’s really more than a game because
now it’s really more than a game because the player in this case me has to first
the player in this case me has to first
the player in this case me has to first Buy and then cut out and then glue
Buy and then cut out and then glue
Buy and then cut out and then glue together and then paint the game pieces
together and then paint the game pieces
together and then paint the game pieces like like this guy now it probably took
like like this guy now it probably took
like like this guy now it probably took me about an hour and a half to paint
me about an hour and a half to paint
me about an hour and a half to paint this guy and I have
this guy and I have
this guy and I have airplanes and monsters and Dragons and
airplanes and monsters and Dragons and
airplanes and monsters and Dragons and all sorts of things um so why am i
all sorts of things um so why am i
all sorts of things um so why am i invested so much time and money to my
invested so much time and money to my
invested so much time and money to my regret in this this game in this hobby
regret in this this game in this hobby
regret in this this game in this hobby the answer is quite simple it’s
the answer is quite simple it’s
the answer is quite simple it’s community you see in Zimbabwe I extended
community you see in Zimbabwe I extended
community you see in Zimbabwe I extended this to my students and in another
this to my students and in another
this to my students and in another country where there’s not much
country where there’s not much
country where there’s not much electricity and not much to do this
electricity and not much to do this
electricity and not much to do this provided a lot of entertainment and
provided a lot of entertainment and
provided a lot of entertainment and connections between students from all
connections between students from all
connections between students from all over the world but I also found to my
over the world but I also found to my
over the world but I also found to my surprise a group of the develop
surprise a group of the develop
surprise a group of the develop professionals who wanted to play this
professionals who wanted to play this
professionals who wanted to play this game we played every week at my house
game we played every week at my house
game we played every week at my house for four years and playing playing this
for four years and playing playing this
for four years and playing playing this game rolling dice laughing commiserating
game rolling dice laughing commiserating
game rolling dice laughing commiserating eating pizza together brought in
eating pizza together brought in
eating pizza together brought in Richmond and enjoyment to my life and to
Richmond and enjoyment to my life and to
Richmond and enjoyment to my life and to theirs now this is not an isolated thing
theirs now this is not an isolated thing
theirs now this is not an isolated thing and it doesn’t extend only to these
and it doesn’t extend only to these
and it doesn’t extend only to these sorts of games as I did some research in
sorts of games as I did some research in
sorts of games as I did some research in preparation for this I found out that
preparation for this I found out that
preparation for this I found out that even in video games there’s a lot of
even in video games there’s a lot of
even in video games there’s a lot of community that’s built you see people
community that’s built you see people
community that’s built you see people like to watch each other play video
like to watch each other play video
like to watch each other play video games I remember this from my own
games I remember this from my own
games I remember this from my own teenage years watching my friends
teenage years watching my friends
teenage years watching my friends playing Metroid and Donkey Kong on the
playing Metroid and Donkey Kong on the
playing Metroid and Donkey Kong on the Super Nintendo working our way through
Super Nintendo working our way through
Super Nintendo working our way through Madden season of football taking turns
Madden season of football taking turns
Madden season of football taking turns because you see you know there’s only
because you see you know there’s only
because you see you know there’s only one person playing the game perhaps the
one person playing the game perhaps the
one person playing the game perhaps the others again give advice commiserate
others again give advice commiserate
others again give advice commiserate laugh and everyone enjoys it
laugh and everyone enjoys it
laugh and everyone enjoys it there are even tournaments where
there are even tournaments where
there are even tournaments where thousands of people come to watch
thousands of people come to watch
thousands of people come to watch professional gamers go head-to-head and
professional gamers go head-to-head and
professional gamers go head-to-head and participate in this endeavor I read an
participate in this endeavor I read an
participate in this endeavor I read an article in a November issue of The New
article in a November issue of The New
article in a November issue of The New Yorker which was focused on how to use
Yorker which was focused on how to use
Yorker which was focused on how to use this to get rich and people are getting
this to get rich and people are getting
this to get rich and people are getting rich doing this which is which is
rich doing this which is which is
rich doing this which is which is interesting there’s an online gaming
interesting there’s an online gaming
interesting there’s an online gaming channel called twitch this is now a
channel called twitch this is now a
channel called twitch this is now a multi-billion dollar company where
multi-billion dollar company where
multi-billion dollar company where professional gamers livestream their
professional gamers livestream their
professional gamers livestream their play to audiences of sometimes up to
play to audiences of sometimes up to
play to audiences of sometimes up to thousands of people at a time they
thousands of people at a time they
thousands of people at a time they streamed for hours 14 18 hours on end
streamed for hours 14 18 hours on end
streamed for hours 14 18 hours on end you know sort of confirming this sort of
you know sort of confirming this sort of
you know sort of confirming this sort of cliche of the person sitting alone in
cliche of the person sitting alone in
cliche of the person sitting alone in the basement with
the basement with
the basement with noodles or whatever right but this is
noodles or whatever right but this is
noodles or whatever right but this is not what it’s about what really
not what it’s about what really
not what it’s about what really interested me about this article was the
interested me about this article was the
interested me about this article was the description of these chat rooms these
description of these chat rooms these
description of these chat rooms these these gaming sites as kind of a virtual
these gaming sites as kind of a virtual
these gaming sites as kind of a virtual neighborhood hub you see the regulars
neighborhood hub you see the regulars
neighborhood hub you see the regulars who go there are greeted warmly by name
who go there are greeted warmly by name
who go there are greeted warmly by name there’s a chat feed and so when someone
there’s a chat feed and so when someone
there’s a chat feed and so when someone signs in they’re recognized they’re
signs in they’re recognized they’re
signs in they’re recognized they’re greeted by the gamer who of course you
greeted by the gamer who of course you
greeted by the gamer who of course you know sort of has a gift of gab and
know sort of has a gift of gab and
know sort of has a gift of gab and achieve some sort of celebrity from
achieve some sort of celebrity from
achieve some sort of celebrity from doing this and they participate in each
doing this and they participate in each
doing this and they participate in each other’s lives the article talked about
other’s lives the article talked about
other’s lives the article talked about these these these audience members
these these these audience members
these these these audience members watching someone play a game sharing
watching someone play a game sharing
watching someone play a game sharing life advice sharing inside jokes even
life advice sharing inside jokes even
life advice sharing inside jokes even sharing instances of grief or depression
sharing instances of grief or depression
sharing instances of grief or depression all on an online site I’ve seen my own
all on an online site I’ve seen my own
all on an online site I’ve seen my own son do this he uses some of his sort of
son do this he uses some of his sort of
son do this he uses some of his sort of allocated online time to watch somebody
allocated online time to watch somebody
allocated online time to watch somebody play Minecraft on YouTube this baffled
play Minecraft on YouTube this baffled
play Minecraft on YouTube this baffled me until I realized that these people
me until I realized that these people
me until I realized that these people too are searching for community now
too are searching for community now
too are searching for community now these communities are growing in them in
these communities are growing in them in
these communities are growing in them in the board game industry as well the
the board game industry as well the
the board game industry as well the industry is growing in 30% a year their
industry is growing in 30% a year their
industry is growing in 30% a year their shops springing up all over the world
shops springing up all over the world
shops springing up all over the world I’ve visited several in the UK in the
I’ve visited several in the UK in the
I’ve visited several in the UK in the United States and even in Singapore
United States and even in Singapore
United States and even in Singapore where you can rent the right to play
where you can rent the right to play
where you can rent the right to play games they have hundreds of games and
games they have hundreds of games and
games they have hundreds of games and you sort of just pay an hourly rate you
you sort of just pay an hourly rate you
you sort of just pay an hourly rate you drink a cup of tea and you sit there
drink a cup of tea and you sit there
drink a cup of tea and you sit there with your friends and play games how is
with your friends and play games how is
with your friends and play games how is this happening how are these simple
this happening how are these simple
this happening how are these simple board games like risk and so on
board games like risk and so on
board games like risk and so on competing with the digital wonderland
competing with the digital wonderland
competing with the digital wonderland that is modern video gaming well my
that is modern video gaming well my
that is modern video gaming well my answer for that is that I think there’s
answer for that is that I think there’s
answer for that is that I think there’s something special about doing something
something special about doing something
something special about doing something in person there’s something special to
in person there’s something special to
in person there’s something special to me about putting my painted army on the
me about putting my painted army on the
me about putting my painted army on the table to my geeky pride I’ve even wanted
table to my geeky pride I’ve even wanted
table to my geeky pride I’ve even wanted little prizes and competitions for my
little prizes and competitions for my
little prizes and competitions for my painting and so there’s recognition in
painting and so there’s recognition in
painting and so there’s recognition in that as well I also am recognized for my
that as well I also am recognized for my
that as well I also am recognized for my skill and for my aptitudes in these in
skill and for my aptitudes in these in
skill and for my aptitudes in these in these domains and this extends to
these domains and this extends to
these domains and this extends to everyone who participates it’s sort of
everyone who participates it’s sort of
everyone who participates it’s sort of like the reason you’re here instead of
like the reason you’re here instead of
like the reason you’re here instead of just watching YouTube videos of Ted
just watching YouTube videos of Ted
just watching YouTube videos of Ted there’s something about going like going
there’s something about going like going
there’s something about going like going to the theater instead of going to the
to the theater instead of going to the
to the theater instead of going to the movies something about being there in
movies something about being there in
movies something about being there in person hearing the reactions of people
person hearing the reactions of people
person hearing the reactions of people around you smelling a visceral sensation
around you smelling a visceral sensation
around you smelling a visceral sensation of presence of interaction that’s not
of presence of interaction that’s not
of presence of interaction that’s not present in a movie seat there’s also
present in a movie seat there’s also
present in a movie seat there’s also just the connections that are built so I
just the connections that are built so I
just the connections that are built so I don’t think this is ever going to go
don’t think this is ever going to go
don’t think this is ever going to go away and I’m very pleased by this I’m
away and I’m very pleased by this I’m
away and I’m very pleased by this I’m very happy to see that in this ever
very happy to see that in this ever
very happy to see that in this ever increasingly large world people are
increasingly large world people are
increasingly large world people are still needing so reaching out for these
still needing so reaching out for these
still needing so reaching out for these kinds of connections so my message today
kinds of connections so my message today
kinds of connections so my message today is quite simple it’s that you’re not too
is quite simple it’s that you’re not too
is quite simple it’s that you’re not too old to play games and you shouldn’t stop
old to play games and you shouldn’t stop
old to play games and you shouldn’t stop so whether it’s revisiting a childhood
so whether it’s revisiting a childhood
so whether it’s revisiting a childhood favorite or trying out one of the many
favorite or trying out one of the many
favorite or trying out one of the many interesting new games sitting down with
interesting new games sitting down with
interesting new games sitting down with the friend sitting down with your family
the friend sitting down with your family
the friend sitting down with your family I encourage you to sit down play a game
I encourage you to sit down play a game
I encourage you to sit down play a game [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment