Who We Are
Dobble Debate is a project brought to OCAD University by Nina Czegledy in collaboration with Lynn Hughes of TAG, Concordia University. The project involves OCAD University’s Faculty of Design students and alumni, as well as other researchers at both OCAD and Concordia, in a stimulating, games-based project that has been presented and workshopped at various events.
Our Goals
The goals of the project are to use humour and imagination to look at people’s differing abilities, acquired or genetic ‘disabilities’ as they are traditionally referred to—as potentially conferring an advantage in certain circumstances. The game is played with cards and debate. It is intended to be amusing leading to laughter as players try to make up winning arguments for why a particular ‘disability’ would be a disaster or a real advantage in any given circumstances. The goal is that players still come away with the feeling that any differing ability might be an advantage at times. Furthermore, because the overall experience of the game is lighthearted and imaginative, players are left associating ‘disabilities’ with a positive feeling. The game requires that players learn about the specifics of differing abilities.
The initial game developed for this project is intended for use in schools with students who do not have direct experience of differing abilities. Following this, the game could be used by people or groups with differing abilities for feedback that would contribute to a new revised game for future outreach. The game promotes, through its iterative and narrative methodology, understanding, cross-fertilization, knowledge mobility and community.
The initial game developed for this project is intended for use in schools with students who do not have direct experience of differing abilities. Following this, the game could be used by people or groups with differing abilities for feedback that would contribute to a new revised game for future outreach. The game promotes, through its iterative and narrative methodology, understanding, cross-fertilization, knowledge mobility and community.
Gameplay
The gameplay begins with an assigned judge decided by the group. The players sitting immediately to the left and right of the judge are chosen to be the challengers, flipping the top card of the Situation Deck (orange) and the Differences Deck (blue).
The player on the left then begins by arguing the advantage(s) of having the Difference, shown on the overturned card, in the particular Situation dictated by the other overturned card. After the player is done, the player on the right then argues for the opposite - the disadvantage(s) of having that Difference in that Situation.
After both players have made their case, the judge then assigns dobbles or points card to the players based on their arguments. The round then ends and the roles rotate to the left. When there are no remaining dobble cards left, the game ends. The players add up their point values and the player with the highest total wins.
In the latest iteration of the game, players can add their own notes to the cards and enrich the deck with knowledge of the Differences and Situations from their own education and experience. This allows the deck to evolve with each play.
The player on the left then begins by arguing the advantage(s) of having the Difference, shown on the overturned card, in the particular Situation dictated by the other overturned card. After the player is done, the player on the right then argues for the opposite - the disadvantage(s) of having that Difference in that Situation.
After both players have made their case, the judge then assigns dobbles or points card to the players based on their arguments. The round then ends and the roles rotate to the left. When there are no remaining dobble cards left, the game ends. The players add up their point values and the player with the highest total wins.
In the latest iteration of the game, players can add their own notes to the cards and enrich the deck with knowledge of the Differences and Situations from their own education and experience. This allows the deck to evolve with each play.