Gamestar Mechanic

Overview
Gamestar Mechanic (G*M) is an online multiplayer game developed by Gamelab and funded by the MacArthur Foundation. In Gamestar Mechanic, players learn the fundamentals of game design as they create games, and share them with a larger community of players. Within the game, players take the role of “game mechanics” in a steampunk world where the rules and elements of games have come to life as creatures. Players use these creatures to repair broken games and create new ones. As an apprentice game mechanic, players prove their expertise by completing a series of increasingly complex game design challenges, earning experience and leveling up on their way towards membership in the Council of Master Mechanics--at which point they can become mentors to others within the community.

The Institute of Play is currently developing a Strategy Guide for Gamestar Mechanic. A private Beta of the game was released in January 2008, with a public release scheduled for Spring 2009.

Assessment framework
Robert Torres, a core member of the Gamestar assessment team is developing a set of core heuristics to be considered as part of the assessment program for Gamestar Mechanic. These heuristics point to a set of skills the game supports.

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