Once you have designed a game, you can publish this for learners to play. There’s two ways to publish games:
1. Custom Sessions: You are able to organise game sessions by inviting players with a game code. You can choose the exact team and role configuration, and when to start the game session.
When to use: Custom sessions allow you to organise teams of learners to play at the same time, e.g. if you are running an in-person or virtual training workshop and you want all the players to play at the same time. As a facilitator you can track in real time all the teams. A virtual leaderboard is also visible to you and the teams.
2.Instant Sessions: Learners are able to self-join via a game link or through a learning management system (LMS) integration. If a game has multiple roles players can invite their own teammates to join the game and play with them.
When to use: Instant sessions are useful when you want players to self-join, self-invite their teammates and self-start the games. Players can join the game at any time through a link, and will need to invite their own teammates.
This article focuses on Instant Sessions, you can read more about Custom Game Sessions here.
Instant Sessions are great when you’re not going to be an active part of the facilitation of the game. Instant Sessions allow you to share a game link with learners through email, message, etc or post to a website or a learning management system (LMS). Players can join the game at any time through the link, and can invite their own teammates.
Note: There is an additional Random player mode option, where players get automatically connected with other players on a first-come-first-serve basis. As players are randomly paired, only use this option in trusted environments, where the players know each other.
Remember a game has to be Published before sharing it, let’s take a look at how to do it:
1. On the game description, click the ‘Play game’ button
2. On the next screen, click on the ‘Publish to play’ button.
3. Once published, click the ‘Play game’ button again, or if you're on the Designs tab click on the Play button.
4. Click on the “Copy game URL” button
5. The URL is copied to your clipboard, and you can share the game link with learners through email, message, etc or post to a website or a learning management system (LMS).
The person you shared the game with can then join and play the game, (after creating a Gamoteca account if they don’t already have one). If it is a two-player game, they will also need to invite someone else to play with them.
If Random-Player mode is turned on, they will be connected with the next available learner(s) who join(s) the game in the other role(s).
If you’re interested in facilitating a live game session in a workshop with a specific group, read more about Custom Sessions here.
6. Players will receive an email notification and in-app mobile notification once the game starts.
7. You will be able to monitor in real time the player progress as well as the user-generated content they create during game play. Depending on the game design, you may also be able to provide closed or open feedback to the various teams simultaneously. Learn more about how to monitor your games in this article.