Initially as a group, we set about researching our area Camberwell SE5. We tried to research the area from the websites listed in the project brief, but found varying degrees of information. The postcode project was one example whereby it provided no hidden secrets that we could exploit in our game. After allocating what we would research, I was given the task of researching a Gallery.
The gallery that I chose was due to its location in proximity to a team members designated site and also its name. While researching Camberwell, I became aware that Charles Dickens had lived in and around the area of Camberwell south London. This influenced the name of the gallery that I decided to use in the game. The gallery was called Great Expectations, after a novel that Charles Dickens wrote. This made writing the clue with which the players would need to solve, more interesting and would make the game more interesting to play.
It was very difficult to co-ordinate 8 people and find times to meet, which suited all or most people. This lead to people becoming disgruntled and feeling pushed aside. I tried to get people motivated, but it also struck me that it was not my duty to do so. I did not want to force myself upon people are claim any kind on leadership. I was lucky in that when I spoke to others in the group they helped so that this did not happen, because it would have been in my opinion wrong to do this. Striking the balance between encouraging people and pushing people to complete their side of the task, is very difficult, it requires a solid team who understand that they all have to do their bit otherwise everything will fall apart. But our group managed to come together in the end and produce a successful result.
If I were to do this again I would work harder at trying to establish a solid group. Perhaps, it would be better to include more detail in the game. I could have provided more information on who Charles Dickens was and what he was doing in London at this time. This would have made the players experience of London more informative and possibly added to their enjoyment of the game.
Overall, I think that this was good experience, but that the issues of working with people that you do not know and trying to pull them together made the work as an individual more difficult to produce. It is a good introduction to working as a team n the future.
Bibliography:
Camberwell. Wikipedia. Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camberwell. Last accessed 10 October 2007.
Camerwell SE5. Availible: www.museumoflondon.org/postcodes. Last accessed 11 October 2007.
Camberwell Gallery. GX Gallery. Availible: http://www.gxgallery.com. Last accessed 11 October 2007.
Chales Dickens Camberwell. Go Britannia. Availible:http://www.britannia.com/travel/dickens.html. Last accessed 11 October 2007.
Camberwel Society. Avalible: http://www.camberwellsociety.org.uk. Last accessed 12 October 2007.
