Brookville Branch Library’s Chris Blackford, Information Services Assistant, will speak about how tabletop games can do more than simply entertain, and can also teach and inspire. The program is free and scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 20, from 6:30- 7:30 p.m. at the branch, 120 Blue Pride Drive, Brookville.
Submitted | Brookville Branch Library
BROOKVILLE — What can board games teach us?
To find out the answer to that question, come to the Brookville Branch Library to hear Chris Blackford, Information Services Assistant, talk about how tabletop games can do more than simply entertain, they can also teach and inspire. The program is free and scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 20 from 6:30- 7:30 p.m. at the branch, 120 Blue Pride Drive, Brookville.
Blackford will discuss how board game and role-playing game designers are combining their love of history with their love of games to create simulations, explore alternative history, and help others learn using this alternative method.
He explains his reasoning for choosing this topic, “I’ve always had an interest in games of all kinds and I’ve always had an interest in history. Being drawn to board games based on historical topics, I’ve found that they’re effective ways not just to teach the history, but they’re effective at letting people explore the history. One game designer called them ‘paper time machines,’ and I think that’s the perfect description. “
When asked how long have board games featuring history been around, he replied, “Wargames as we know them today really got their start in the 1950s, which was also the time where the U.S. military started many of the early examples being about battles during World War 2. But the ancient Chinese game of Go, along with the Medieval game of Chess, were used in a similar way to train military leaders.”
“Wargames, and many historical games in general, have a reputation for being tough to learn and play. Or that only history buffs would enjoy them. I hope to dispel these beliefs and show that these are simply just games at the basic level and that they can offer what other types of games can’t. Hopefully they’ll get a few recommendations of fun games to try,” Blackford continued.
He hopes that through this program, “people will see how useful games are allowing others to explore important moments in history in a unique way. It’s one thing to read about these moments or to watch them in movies, but it’s another to play out battles or change the course of history on your own!”
To register for this event or for information on other library programs, see the Upcoming Events Brookville Branch tab, call 937-463-2665, or visit the library.
