The way we think and game design
I found this article Four Patterns of Thinking quite interesting. It discusses thought process and challenges us to consider whether we are cognisant of how our differing thinking patterns affects our actions, which clearly it does. But more importantly, how might we ‘borrow’ from a different type of thought process to more affectively make decisions?
In considering how this relates to our business, it is clear that our kids game designers think differently than our creative directors think differently than our strategists, and this intersection of thought is what truly fosters great work.
From another perspective, how much of this is considered when designing games and virtual worlds, specifically for kids? Clearly, it is important to provide experiences that different types of people can interact with and enjoy. When designing games and virtual worlds, the first question often asked is for what demographic are we building, and once that has been defined, it is dissected further. But as we design, its important to consider how different minds and different behavior patterns will experience the same environment.