in reply to Fun new game ???

Such a game already exists, and unfortunately, many people are forced to play it daily. The only good thing about those people being forced to play it, is that they get paid to do so, and get a nice "Software Maintianer" title. The ones who actually start the game, didn't know about the rules when they started, but for some undefined reason, they abide by all rules specified.

There is a small difference between your rules and the rules of the game that I know is currently being played. In the real life version of this game, the players are allowed to talk to the Manager, but that does not make it any easier. The Manager has no knowledge of what is happening, and because he manages so many projects, he thinks using Tie::Hash::Cannabinol may help.

When requirements change, players get two days to finish the project unaltered before the new requirements are told, so they can train making modular programs that can easily be changed. Another type of special person comes to play in the real life version: the Maintainer. The Maintainer is the only one allowed to write documentation, and makes sure the project can still be run when the game has officially ended. The Maintainer does not get to have a gun, although he does get to use some other LARTs, if - and only if - he manages to rewrite the entire project. 

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Re: Re: Fun new game ???
by trs80 (Priest) on Apr 15, 2002 at 18:21 UTC
    Interesting verbiage, "forced to play it". I would say that is not true. Many people may be "forced" to take on certain types of jobs, but I can't remember any time that someone told me they became a software developer because that was the only option they had.

    On a more (or less) serious note, the scale of the "project" within my imaginary game is very small/limited. I also think that perhaps if played on a small scale people will be able to identify problems that may arise on a large scale. It also gives people that are not currently in management an oppurtunity to try their hand at it if they are so inclined.
    I will admit my first proposed game would most likely turn into something less then small/limited, but in a way that is part of the fun/challege. Making something that solves a problem without generating equally as large if not bigger problems is a real part of software development.

    I do agree that it might be tedious to people like myself that do development everyday, but it would also provide exposure to those that don't have any as well as that are thinking of becoming managers.
    Another aspect that I didn't bring up in my original post was the post game recap. The Manager and players could post their summary of how things went, problem areas, etc. It would be interesting to see how certain problems were attacked by different people in a non threatening (non-work) environment. So in that vain I guess obfu code would result in point reduction.

    Just like firefighters burn real buidings for training we should have a fun place to do development training. If there are other ways to do this in a non-production team environment let me know.
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