| For a long time people have been afraid of what | | | | post an additional addendum to fix what was |
| are known as "Role Playing Games" as there are | | | | missed, and the third would be a counter. |
| some negative biases around those who play | | | | A counter means that the judge will actually write |
| them. However, that is because most people are | | | | a story of their own countering what you wrote, |
| thinking of the old D&D type, or the newer | | | | and presenting you with a situation that you must |
| World of Warcraft and similar games. But what | | | | find a way out of, or a way to benefit for you. |
| about a game that can improve your writing skills, | | | | This enables further creativity upon the player's |
| and enable you to be creative and also think | | | | part, and also adds to the critical thinking aspect |
| critically? Such games do exist. They are not the | | | | of the game itself. Most veterans of the game |
| click and play style, but rather more like a short | | | | can attest to writing better than they did before |
| story that is interactive. Known mostly as post | | | | they began playing, and it takes very little time to |
| by post, some variants have developed to be a | | | | do compared to a game such as World of |
| bit more interactive. | | | | Warcraft in which you spend hours in a virtual |
| Take for consideration MSRP III game. In this | | | | world without engaging your imagination. |
| game you are launched into a world of crime | | | | A further aspect of the game is player to player |
| without anything but the clothes on your back. | | | | interaction, whether that is negative and |
| You must basically write your way up the ladder, | | | | combative to positive and cooperative. If you join |
| while avoiding being killed. When you have written | | | | a syndicate or family, you are joining more |
| something and post it, you then submit it to the | | | | players and will likely get to intertwine your story |
| staff for what is called judgment. You can play | | | | with theirs, and participate in what they are doing |
| for fun, or you can play with goals in mind for | | | | too. However, there can also be situations where |
| improvement. What happens next is that the | | | | other players will want to (if they have a solid and |
| staff will read it, and will give an analysis over it, | | | | valid reason) attack you, or even try to kill you. If |
| whether or not you are playing for fun or for | | | | that happens you get a full 48 hours to write up |
| goals. They will point out any spelling and/or | | | | what is called a 'counter', where what you do is |
| grammar mistakes you may have made (which | | | | write your own story, based upon a hole in theirs, |
| do not count against you, but are for you to do | | | | or just starting from a point during theirs to |
| better) and then they will give you an analysis of | | | | launch off of, and fight back. If yours is of |
| whether what you posted is possible. | | | | superior quality and logically sound, you will survive |
| As an example, you write up how you started to | | | | and it is likely that they will not. However if yours |
| earn a little money in this mafia-world and started | | | | is less than theirs, you'll be pushing up daisies and |
| doing small things, and actually writing out what | | | | need to make a new player account. |
| you did just as any short story would. If it all flies | | | | Every person on this site is also welcome to |
| well, your character is actually rewarded with | | | | other aspects too, such as the out of game |
| whatever it is your goal was, be it some game | | | | forums and the arcade, in case you don't feel like |
| cash, or some item. That can then be put in your | | | | writing. Every player gets one out of game |
| "Bio" or biography post, and can be used later if | | | | account, and two in game player accounts (which |
| you can carry it with you. However, let's say you | | | | gives you a backup just in case the unforeseeable |
| made a few mistakes - the judgment will likely | | | | happens to one). In the end, the entire point is to |
| point those out, and then three things may | | | | have fun while bettering your writing skills and to |
| happen. The first and most common is a simple | | | | use that often neglected aspect of the human |
| closed judgment, the second is an opportunity to | | | | mind: imagination. |