The Wire

On Saturday 11/22 over a hundred young people, their parents and teachers all convened at Parsons The New School for Design to test out new games and have fun at at PlayTech Saturday!

PlayTech gives Mouse Squad members the chance to test out the latest games and projects being designed by graduate students in Parsons' Design and Technology program. Some of these games are almost finished and some are just the seeds of an idea. The feedback from Mouse Squad members helps shape the future of these games. Oh yeah...and there's free pizza too!

Squads came from:

• PS 89 Cypress Hills
• JHS 157 Halsey
• Urban Assembly Maker Academy
• Landmark High School
• Hudson High School of Learning Teechnologies
• Dreamyard Preparatory School
• Bronx International

After our pizza and soda, we played games for tablets, games for computers, board games, games involving robotics, TWO games with an Oculus Rift, games with Little Bits and more!

Mouse ran a game that asked participants to get to know the designers at PlayTech Saturday better and also to give them feedback on their games. There are three levels to beat before wining a PlayTech Sasturday USB bracelet. This PlayTech we gave out over 100 prizes!

The last challenge of the Mouse game asked players to come up with an idea for their own original game. Here are a few of our favorite ideas:

• “My game would have the player be a crocodile battling enemy sharks for a lake, but since the player crocodile is a pacifist he must negotiate ogres to fight his battles for him. #kickstart”
• “The game name would be President Simulator. You’re a President and you do everything that a President does for 4 (in game) years. Like: Make laws, try not to start wars and take phone calls.”
• “Transportation: A board game where you have to travel around the island of Manhattan using different modes of transportation. You have to arrive at different locations and collect different items to win. 2+ players”

Missed PlayTech but wish you were there? Don't worry, there will be another one in the Spring. Stay tuned to the Wire to find out when!