After yesterday’s debate, this will be my last Flog for DIG 401. I didn’t mention Hack #5 before, so I’ll cover it now and include it in my final portfolio. For Hack #5, I created a beta version of Hack #2, the game I originally built to critique the U.S. healthcare system. I chose to revisit this hack because trying something entirely new felt overwhelming. Sticking with familiar tools allowed me to focus on refining the concept rather than wrestling with new software or program on my computer. At first, I thought my original design was flawless, but Dr. Sample’s feedback on Moodle convinced me there was room to improve. One challenge was time. During my class presentation, I ran out of time before I could show the updated treatment and illness cards or demonstrate a quick round of play with a classmate. I knew the mechanics worked, but without a live demo, the game’s emotional impact didn’t come through as strongly as I’d hoped. Another challenge was balancing complexity with clarity: adding new game elements risked confusing players, so I had to simplify rules without diluting the critical message, and I think I was able to embody that by adding more realistic examples!
