Game test at the Barry Memo
In the middle of our second writing week, we ran our big game test. I hired an additional 4 performers (Morgan Dawkins, Jenny Duffy, Duncan Hallis and Liam Wallace), so I could focus on running the game and watching audience reactions.
First of all, I want to note how much demand there is for game theatre. The game test was “sold out” (it was a free event) within days and the Barry Memo had to create a waiting list.
By this point, we had already a couple of game tests under our belt and the script had had a major revision. We jazzed up the ending to make it closer to an epic boss fight where the GORE management gets defeated in flames (narrated flames for the game test). And we added additional secret rules in the form of dark spells to create a more unique experience.
It was the first time we tested these dark spells and it massively backfired, but in a most instructive way. One player used the dark spell in a different way than we anticipated and secured overall victory ending up with more resources than he had at the start.
It was probably a frustrating experience for his team and there was a lot of confusion. If this happened in a performance it would SUCK. In the game test it was amazing because it showed us exactly where we need to tighten rules and where the story needs more room and detail so we can explain at the end why a certain player has won.
Going home confused about why you lost cannot be an option.
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