GBDA 301 - Global Digital Project - Game Design

School Outreach Program

Copyright Narcotik
Version 1.0 - December 3, 2015

Authors:
Boro Vukovic: Head Developer
Rocky Chen: Art Director
Ana Marosevic: Project Manager
Jacqueline Wong: Game Designer
Ashna Mankotia: Report Writer

Core Issue
There is an issue in North America with the misuse of prescription drugs, this is an increasing
cause of external death. Australia is experiencing the same trend with as prescription related
deaths are increasing. What the concern is, is that these deaths are preventable if there is an
overall spread of awareness of the possible outcomes of drug misuse among the target age
groups.
Adolescents and young adults are becoming the main group at risk for prescription drug
abuse, where the assumption is made that these forms of drugs are in a way safer than other
illegal drugs. Pill parties (also known as Pharming) are events that are being held where drugs
are taken by participants in a roulette style. These drugs are obtained from family households,
such as the medicine cabinet, and then pooled together with what other peers have collected
from their homes.
When these drugs are combined with other substances such as illegal drugs or alcohol, the risk
of the level of toxicity can cause overdose and even death. Since the pill taken by the
individual is unknown, mixed with any other substance will have a different effect on each
person and after feeling an initial high, alarming effects can be a consequence of these actions.
The Victoria Department of Health wants young
people to become more aware of this issue to
prevent future harm, either temporary or fatal, so
that they are informed of how their decisions can
really impact them when participating in these
types of parties.

Core Task Alignment:

The following outlines what is needed to guide the planning and development of the
workshop. This would be a maximum one day event and attached is the general format of the
agenda. Please ensure that the outline is modified to fit specific target groups of areas in
different demographics. Consider the following when planning resources:
- What is the ratio between facilitators and participants?
- How will the number of participants be accommodated in the proposed facility?
- What standards must be followed since the workshop takes place on school grounds?
- What resources are readily available on site?

Objectives:
-

Legal drugs should be used for what they are created for specifically.
Not knowing what a pill is can cause bodily harm - especially if combined with other
substances.
They should not be taking medication that is prescribed to another individual.
Taking multiple unknown pills in combination can create new chemical reactions that
your body may not be able to handle.
Though they can be over-the-counter, when mixed, it can cause greater damage than
certain illegal drugs.

Planning Before Day of Workshop:

-

review material
promote participation
engage a team to help
powerpoint and other media

Schedule of Activities:

PART I:
30 Minutes

Building a Foundation: Large Group Setting

Materials

Key Components

Introductory Video
Welcome Powerpoint
Schedule

Leading Questions

Introduction video gets participants interested to see

what the workshop for the day has to offer
Meet the facilitators for the day
Ice-breaking games
Distribute workshop print materials with schedule
Communicate main take-away message for the day
How can we engage the audience?
How can we make the participants feel open and
welcome for discussion?
What are our main goals for the workshop day?

PART II:
45 Minutes

Game Play: Introduction to Narcotik

Materials

Key Components

Link to game file

Computers, Tablets, Mobile
Devices
Leading Questions

Direct participants to the game file

Participants can experiment with the game
Interact with different components or outcomes of the
game
How can you be successful in the game?
How should they achieve a high score
Can you win the game?

PART III:
40 Minutes

Discussing the Outcome: Small Group Setting

Materials

Key Components

Tables and chairs

Twitter Wall (overhead
projector)

Leading Questions

Smaller groups of 5-6 and one facilitator to guide

discussion
Discussion of discoveries made by playing the game
Decide on 3 key findings through observations
Tweet those findings on the Twitter wall for everyone
to see
How did participants feel when playing the game?
What do you think these things mean?
Would you keep playing the game?

- Lunch Break PART IV:

45 Minutes

Connect the Dots: Small Group Setting

Materials

Key Components

Narcotik Information
Government materials on
drug abuse

Leading Questions

Link the game play of Narcotik to current issue with

pill parties
Discussion: make aware to participants the possible
threats that can happen if going to pill parties
Ideas as to how this information can be spread to all
young adults
What are some connections made between the game
and real work drug abuse?
How can young adults be informed of the possible
negative effects of pill parties?

PART V:
30 Minutes

Meaningful Message: Large Group Setting

Materials

Key Components

Closing Powerpoint
Wrap Up Video
Additional material regarding
drug use and drug abuse

Closing Statements to wrap up the day of activities

Summarize key learnings from workshop
Ask participants for feedback for improving

More links to the game:

Narcotik
Leading Questions

What have you learned from the day?

Is there anything new you discovered that you did not
know about?
What is your new opinion on drug use and drug
abuse?