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OCV - The Game


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The idea of transforming OCV into 'game form' came about because of a discussion in the minibus on the way back from a task.... It's not clear what sparked it, but there did seem to be a few different ideas.... It turns out there are quite a lot of variables to play about with, all of which are interlinked: tasks; tools; tea; clients; planning; programming; money - fundraising/expenditure; politics; volunteers; volunteer turnover; time available; seasons; weather. These can then be broken down further e.g. types of tasks/skills required; sorts of tools/toolshed/tool maintenance. In the van on the way back from task, there was one person thinking along the lines of snakes and ladders (forgetting the tea box means you slide down snake, or finishing a task on time takes you up a ladder); whereas another person was imagining more of a Sim City style game where if a leader leaves the volunteers alone too long they get bored and start cutting down everything rather than just the tree that they're supposed to. From small ideas come great things....anyway, it seemed like the whole concept could do with exploring further....

OCV: Task Leader 2012 Non-Pro - Tim Evans

What everyone wants really is to be in charge of a task and make volunteers do what they're told, but without any of the tedious responsibility. I had an idea for a kind of strategy game based around scrub bashing and coppicing. It would probably need to involve tool talks, briefings, tea-making and breaks too. It might work as a board game, but the mechanics probably lend themselves to a computer game.

There would be a given number of volunteers and a playing area made up of squares (no, probably hexagons) containing different symbols. Brambles, trees, open space, etc. Volunteers require a certain amount of time to do a certain activity, e.g. a bramble tile could take 1 turn to clear, whereas a tree tile could take 3 turns say. For added fun this time could depend on their fitness, skill, experience, hunger, thirst and so on. This could be described on a scorecard or dashboard (the latter being better equipped for in-game time-dependency). You can't cut down a tree unless the space around it is clear of brambles. Also when a tree falls down it takes up a number of tiles based on its height, so tiles containing volunteers or other trees have to be taken into account. A felled tree then needs to be cut up. Volunteers also take time to move between tiles. Basically the aim of the game would be to clear as much of the board as possible, without cutting down the wrong things or felling trees on each other. Oh and I almost forgot bonfires, which would clearly be an entertaining addition.

A two-player version might include two rival groups of volunteers and you would try to get as much of the work as possible done by your own volunteers - possibly blocking your opponent with fallen trees? Killing each other off would still have to be frowned upon I think!

and an OCV social sparked this team contribution...

OCV games compendium - Chris, Jo, Paul, Lydia, Caroline, Dan, Michelle, Inigo, Aga, Jonathan

Biscuitopoly Like Monopoly but the properties on the board are all task sites and the game revolves around a biscuit-based economy. The tool shed and garage are utilities. Pubs are stations. Pass go and collect two packets of biscuits. The winner is the one who eats the most biscuits. However, it would be hard to work out which task site went where - imagine the arguments with clients over whose site would get to be the Mayfair equivalent!

OCV Fit A series of mini games for the Wii. Using the Wii controller you could swing to slash down virtual brambles, make a sawing motion to cut trees, and see who could mell in the posts fastest. Plus it comes with a snazzy new drivel attachment!

Strain the monkey A classic Hasbro game in the style of Buckaroo, Mousetrap and Operation. The game comes with a two sets of plastic monkey strainers and a plastic monkey! Two people take turns to wind up their strainers until the plastic monkey snaps apart (don't worry, you can reassemble it for the next game). Not only is this game fun, it's educational, as everyone learns how to use the monkey strainers safely!

Loading the van Tetris A fun app for your smart phone. Volunteers keep passing you odd shaped tools and you need to fit them all into the van as they come down the screen. Slashers are long and thin - easy, but where will you put the awkward-shaped wheelbarrow and bulky tea box?

Conservation Sims A classic! If you don't watch the volunteers, they'll wander off and start cutting down the wrong thing. Make sure you start the tea on time or they'll lose enthusiasm. At each level, the tasks get harder and the volunteers get hungrier (and possibly less competent!)


How the 'Strain the Monkey' game box might look

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