GAM-2 Assignment 2022 SENET

GAM-2 |The History of Video Games GAME EXPLORATION: SENET Read the page for this assignment in Canvas for complete details and web links. BASIC INSTRUCTIONS You can watch a GAM-2 video lecture, and other videos, on this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist? list=PLywB8P5nUgh7tXVl3kAN0ch5TeZiMjsYg You will research some ancient games, play the ancient Egyptian game Senet , and answer the questions on this worksheet. 1. Type your answers in this document using your favorite word processer. 2. To submit your work in Canvas, go to the page for this assignment and click the Submit Assignment button at the top of the page. 3. Copy all the questions and all your completed answers from this document 4. Paste the questions and answers into the Submit tool. Click the Submit Assignment button. QUESTIONS 1. How did you play Senet ? (Tell whether you played with other people, or if you played online or in an app, provide a link. Some online versions of games are better than others – what was the quality of your experience? I played Senet in an online simulator I found on google. The quality of my experience was fine, somehow the game feels familiar. I think that’s because a lot of the rules and concepts of the game are concepts and rules we see in today’s games. 2. Describe basic gameplay mechanics (The basics of how the game is played; a complete explanation of rules is NOT required) Basically, you and an opponent both have 5 “pawns” or pieces on a board. The goal of the game is to get all 4 of your pawns to the other end of the board first. Movement is decided by whatever you roll or “throw” up to 5 spaces. Only one pawn is allowed per space on the board but if your roll conflicts with your opponents pawn you can choose to take over that space and their pawn goes to your original place on the board before the roll. 3. Where and when did Senet originate? Describe the cultural setting where the game developed. Senet originated in Ancient Egypt, originally created as just a way to pass time it later developed into a religious staple as religion in Ancient Egypt began to take on a larger role in society. 4. “Research demonstrates that the stratagems of [Senet] reflect nothing less than the stratagems of the gods, and …when properly understood can reveal essential Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife.” (Piccione) Rev Aug 2020

Play Senet and read Peter Piccione’s article titled “In Search of the Meaning Of Senet ” (see the citations section below) then explain one feature of Sent that helps us understand ancient Egyptian beliefs. One feature of Senet that can help us understand ancient Egyptian beliefs is square 26. This square is to represent the “House of Rejuvenation” where bodies were prepared for mummification, but also where the game allows a free second turn. Almost as to imply some type of a celebration of crossing from our world to the Netherworld. 5. What balance of luck and strategy does this game employ? How does that combination make the game interesting? This game employs both luck and strategy. The strategy is in the selection of movements depending on multiple factors. Luck is in the luck of the roll of the sticks or whatever dice-like devices they might have had. Even the best strategy would require a little bit of luck here. 6. According to Sid Meier, “A games is a series of interesting decisions.” Describe the choices that this game offers the players. How are these choices tactical or strategic (i.e. not cosmetic)? The choices that this game offers mainly are in the movement of the pawns. Which pawn would you like to move? Do you want to try to skip your way across the board as quickly as possible? Do you move one pawn across the board at a time or do you slow down and try to move all of your pawns together? Do you prioritize speed or would you prioritize inconveniencing your opponent by setting them back as often as possible? 7. Describe the gameplay aesthetics of Senet . What is the appeal of the game, what feelings would it create for players? (The word aesthetics is explained in the video lecture.) The aesthetics of the game overall are relaxed. Although I’m sure this game likely got competitive, considering the nature of the competition is more strategy and luck rather than execution this could create a relaxed atmosphere for the game. Something that can be played both leisurely and extremely competitively. I would assume that players emotions could range from being excited to win or be winning, frustrated to lose or be losing, but mostly content as this game was originally designated to pass the time. 8. Using Senet as an example, explain the concepts of game ludology and narratology (These words are explained in the video lecture. Ludology – Senet’s ludology is simple. Try to move your pawns from the start to the finish square as quickly as possible. Your movement is decided by rolls of dice or sticks and you can trade places with an opponent if your roll lands you on the same square as them. Narratology – Senet’s narratology has changed since its initial creation. But the Narratology of Senet is the transition into the after life in ancient Egypt. In a lot of ways the game of Senet symbolizes the journey one makes between their time of death and their journey through the realm of the dead. 9. How does Senet employ the feedback loop known as “ rubber-banding” ? Through variables in the environment, specifically markings on the space that indicate things like skip a turn, an extra turn, or returning to specific spot on the board Rev Aug 2020

DO NOT SUBMIT ANYTHING FROM THIS PAGE LINKS Documents available at: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/i4yli7om311ul94/AAA2odhexuZqyXcGlYkVqG7Ia?dl=0 CITATIONS Piccione, Peter. January 8, 2010. “In Search of the Meaning of Senet .” http://healthy.uwaterloo.ca/museum/Archives/Piccione/ “Discussing Ancient Board Games with Dr. Irving Finkel.” https://youtu.be/wFoWj7BAMo8 “Deciphering the world's oldest rule book | Irving Finkel | Curator's Corner pilot” https://youtu.be/wHjznvH54Cw Rev Aug 2020