Preventing the Alpha Gamer Problem - Is It the Designer's Responsibility?
Cooperative board games often experience the "alpha gamer problem," where one player runs the show and other players feel like their decisions are being made for them. But is this a problem with the game design, or simply a problem with the players around the table? In this video, I talk through some of my thoughts on what causes alpha-gaming, how design decisions related to alpha-gaming can affect the player experience, and 6 ways that you can make a cooperative design less prone to alpha-gaming.
0:00 Intro
1:07 What is Alpha Gaming?
1:50 What Causes Alpha Gaming?
2:13 What Makes a Design Prone to Alpha Gaming?
3:36 How Do Players Handle Alpha Gaming?
6:16 Is Being Prone to Alpha Gaming Always Bad?
9:01 How Should Game Designers Approach It?
11:10 Practical Tips to Reduce Potential for Alpha Gaming
11:42 Tip #1
12:48 Tip #2
13:55 Tip #3
14:52 Tip #4
15:17 Tip #5
16:16 Tip #6
17:10 Or Don't Reduce Potential for Alpha Gaming!
17:39 Outro