GAMING ON A HUGE SCALE
MEGAGAMING
When games go mega…
Written by Becky Campbell-Ladley
Y
ou walk into a room. Along the perimeter, there are rows of tables. A few dozen people are gathered around chatting: some in jeans and t-shirts, some in elaborate costumes, some just wearing silly hats.
In front of you is a large map on a table, where someone in a brightly coloured top is carefully laying out counters in specific regions. And behind that, there is a stage with more brightly clad folk, some rifling through boxes and pulling out cards, some talking to players and gesticulating wildly.
Above them, a projected screen declares: “Welcome! The game will begin shortly.”
You feel excited. Nervous. Perhaps a little overwhelmed. Clutched in your hand is a printout, listing your role for the day and some things you hope to achieve.
You see a couple of your friends, stood with a few strangers. Your friends wave you over eagerly, introduce you to the others as the rest of your team for the day. Introductions over, your teammates begin scheming, pointing at the laminated board on your table and explaining things they’ve already figured out. There is a lot to take in, but somehow it makes you even more excited.
Just then, one of the bright-shirted people calls for silence over a microphone.