tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468631352102294695.post8695771556972307251..comments2024-01-18T01:02:10.807-08:00Comments on Story colored glasses: Welcome to NarratopiaCynthia Kurtzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16185088323080774635noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468631352102294695.post-207892439895641082015-04-27T10:10:33.741-07:002015-04-27T10:10:33.741-07:00Hello Lilia! That would be amazing. I am definitel...Hello Lilia! That would be amazing. I am definitely interested in as many translations as possible, in time. <br /><br />I have to think carefully about a younger-kids game. Usually the method is to use drawings or photographs instead of words for younger kids, but I'm not sure how to picture questions about stories and links between stories. It might be necessary just to use smaller, simpler words instead of pictures. Definitely worth thinking about as soon as the "main" game has stabilized (right now it is undergoing changes as a result of testing). I will definitely remember and look you up when the game has matured to where it can start creating new versions! Thanks again.Cynthia Kurtzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16185088323080774635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468631352102294695.post-89411496040405723932015-04-26T03:43:07.888-07:002015-04-26T03:43:07.888-07:00Cyntia, I'd be happy to do Russian translation...Cyntia, I'd be happy to do Russian translation when the time is right and can probably arrange for a Dutch one. I also see a potential for a kids version of the game as you have discussed above with Sandy and have enough of young kids around for a test run if necessary.Lilia Efimovahttp://blog.mathemagenic.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468631352102294695.post-43845047470712332952015-04-04T10:27:29.758-07:002015-04-04T10:27:29.758-07:00Billie, thanks for your comment! Sadly the last pl...Billie, thanks for your comment! Sadly the last play-test game has been taken (sorry, I hadn't updated the post in time). Even though I'm out of game copies to give out, I am still very much interested in any reactions you might have about the game's general idea, artwork, and gameplay (which you can read about here and on the game's web site, narratopia.com). All the feedback I get now will help me make the game better! Cynthia Kurtzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16185088323080774635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468631352102294695.post-71725466269736380952015-04-02T10:43:13.015-07:002015-04-02T10:43:13.015-07:00Hi!
I was wondering if you still have sets availa...Hi!<br /><br />I was wondering if you still have sets available... I teach 8th grade English and immediately see how Narratopia could be used in my classroom to build community, engage students in literature circles, and act as a pre-writing exercise. Let me know! I'd love to use them with my students.<br /><br />BillieAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11084926162230902180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468631352102294695.post-48240771323293922372015-03-07T10:59:47.541-08:002015-03-07T10:59:47.541-08:00Thanks for the comment, Nadia. Cheryl is an intere...Thanks for the comment, Nadia. Cheryl is an interesting choice. I wonder if it represents a new phase in my life. In my twenties and thirties people always misremembered my name as Sylvia, but about ten years ago it transitioned to Cathy and has been there ever since. Cheryl may mark another transition to a new perception. I can't say I've enjoyed the Cathy years -- nothing against Cathies, but I just don't feel like one. I could be a Cheryl with satisfaction (though I might need to curl my hair, or at least brush it more often). In fact, a new era of Cheryl may be just what I need. Thank you.<br /><br />Please send me an email, to cfkurtz at cfkurtz dot com, with your (real) address and I'll send you my last play-test copy of the game. (!) I would love it if your extended family tries the game! Thanks again!<br /><br />CynthiaCynthia Kurtzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16185088323080774635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468631352102294695.post-548466458077309572015-03-06T17:42:29.487-08:002015-03-06T17:42:29.487-08:00Hi Cheryl, very powerful process. I would love a s...Hi Cheryl, very powerful process. I would love a set. I get together once or twice a month to play card games with extended family, storytellers all. Nadiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18231010522140581093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468631352102294695.post-63527981602292895312015-03-04T09:18:29.311-08:002015-03-04T09:18:29.311-08:00Andrea, thanks so much for your comment! Yes, that...Andrea, thanks so much for your comment! Yes, that's precisely what I want the game to be, fun yet not about fantasy. I was a big D&D fan once and love a good fantasy game myself, but I'm also convinced that people can have just as much fun trading real stories. I know it's a hard sell, though, and I'm not sure I have the recipe right yet... but this round of testing will help me improve on that. (Great feedback is already coming in.) <br /><br />Yes I am very interested in game translations. If you (or if anyone) would like to collaborate on this, I would love to work with you (send an email to cfkurtz at cfkurtz dot com). I wouldn't start any translations yet, because I will be making some changes based on play testing, but when it's time I don't think it would take a bilingual speaker long to translate the texts on the cards and instructions. <br /><br />Thanks again for reading and commenting, and please do write if you want to work together :)<br /><br />CynthiaCynthia Kurtzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16185088323080774635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468631352102294695.post-83313711360828769212015-03-04T08:17:56.997-08:002015-03-04T08:17:56.997-08:00Dear Cynthia,
it has been tremendously emotional ...Dear Cynthia, <br />it has been tremendously emotional finding your article and reading it all at once. <br />At least once in his/her life, who hasn't played to a roleplay like Dungeons & Dragons or read fantasy books?<br />These stuff, anyway have either little or nothing to do with your card game, especially for someone like me who works with communication, storytelling up to the use of stories in the healthcare field by narrative based medicine.<br />At the moment I would be interested in using the game but not so sure about finding someone due to the language barriers (in Italy we're not so good). <br />What about planning to translate it in the next future? Our country could be a really good market because of the different uses you can make of it.<br />Hope to hear from you soon.<br />In the mean time, my most sincere compliments for what you've done so far!<br /> Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03709100134514321222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468631352102294695.post-28792791053863563612015-02-24T10:13:06.921-08:002015-02-24T10:13:06.921-08:00Right, I'm supposed to click "Reply"...Right, I'm supposed to click "Reply"! I used to, but lately I've been forgetting. Oops. No way to fix it.<br /><br />I love your "Little Steps for New Parents" book! I can see how the mix of advice, information, and a place to reflect would be very helpful, and in non-intimidating tidbits. I remember being tossed this way and that when my son was an infant. The only thing I was sure of was that I didn't know what I was doing!<br /><br />Thanks so much for your offer of talking. I'd like to take you up on it and will send you an email.Cynthia Kurtzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16185088323080774635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468631352102294695.post-84623179020747483942015-02-24T09:33:53.229-08:002015-02-24T09:33:53.229-08:00I don't know about publishing games but I do k...I don't know about publishing games but I do know about book publishing (20 years). I have been very careful about maintaining all copyright and publishing rights and it has worked well for me. If you care to talk, Skype or FaceTime, I'd be happy to do that. Karen Dietz can tell you what a crazy entrepreneur I am. My contact info is on my EducateNewParents.com siteSandy Briggshttp://educatenewparents.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468631352102294695.post-87388186030460218942015-02-24T09:15:00.232-08:002015-02-24T09:15:00.232-08:00Sandy, thanks so much for the thoughtful question....Sandy, thanks so much for the thoughtful question. I have been thinking mostly of adults and older children so far. Having my 11-year-old son involved in the game's development has helped me to think about what works for his age and older. Another part of this is that TheGameCrafter,com, the site I'm using to print the game on demand, requires that its games be labeled "12 and up" due to US restrictions about lead testing in products for young children. So I've been thinking about mainly the 12-and-up crowd.<br /><br />I definitely think a game like Narratopia could help younger kids learn social skills like careful listening, respectful questioning, and perspective taking. Some of the concepts and words in the game as I have it now might be difficult for kids 9 and younger. I've seen kids as young as six able to handle complex game structures, but thinking of ways to ask people how they feel or what they need is difficult at that age, even if you're just filling in a blank. I would want to rewrite the cards to be easier to understand, and maybe add some pictures, even though the basic functions of the exchange would stay intact. <br /><br />I'm not sure about whether the game could be useful for vocabulary building. Learning the situated meanings of words on the cards, like "perspective" and "clarify," could be helpful, I guess. But even in the older-kids-and-adults version I've tried to keep the vocabulary simple so the questions don't get too much attention and the story exchange takes center stage. I guess maybe *directed* vocabulary building, where the vocabulary is about the ways in which we communicate and negotiate truth, would be something worth thinking about for younger kids. <br /><br />Lots to think about! Thanks so much for posting such a thoughtful and helpful comment. <br /><br />CynthiaCynthia Kurtzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16185088323080774635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468631352102294695.post-43029422707843758402015-02-24T07:39:38.815-08:002015-02-24T07:39:38.815-08:00My first thought when seeing this was, can this be...My first thought when seeing this was, can this be used with children? Most do not get either vocabulary building or creative expression opportunities. For adults and children, could this be used in library activity programs for building vocabularies and developing social connections? Teens? My particular passion is promoting healthy early brain development. Beginning at birth, stories provide the social, emotional and language experiences babies and children need. I'm interested in knowing if you see your games used in this manner. Sandy Briggshttp://educatenewparents.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468631352102294695.post-83389430307535710862015-02-23T18:48:15.517-08:002015-02-23T18:48:15.517-08:00Thanks for the comment, Karen! I'm glad to pro...Thanks for the comment, Karen! I'm glad to provide balance, though sometimes it feels like I'm a lone voice in the wilderness (but don't we all feel that way sometimes). I hope Narratopia succeeds in making its way into the world, and I'm grateful for any and all feedback that can make it better. So thanks again!Cynthia Kurtzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16185088323080774635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468631352102294695.post-73945942530414570132015-02-23T11:57:56.987-08:002015-02-23T11:57:56.987-08:00What an awesome article Cynthia! Thank you so much...What an awesome article Cynthia! Thank you so much for writing it. It is a breath of fresh air, particularly these days when so much emphasis in storytelling is on "Let me tell you a story" with the emphasis being on telling as in 'pushing'. Story sharing is the heart of storytelling as you point out so well. I love it. Keep writing such great material.Karen Dietzhttp://www.juststoryit.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468631352102294695.post-41755318242516663822015-02-23T10:24:14.755-08:002015-02-23T10:24:14.755-08:00What a coincidence! Although statistically speakin...What a coincidence! Although statistically speaking, the probability that any two people are thinking about self-publishing something at the same time is getting higher and higher - gotta love the internet ;) I will reply in email, but yes let's exchange games and help / learn from each other. Thanks for writing!Cynthia Kurtzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16185088323080774635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468631352102294695.post-46030248726322832942015-02-21T14:35:15.460-08:002015-02-21T14:35:15.460-08:00Cynthia, this is so funny. We must have been drink...Cynthia, this is so funny. We must have been drinking the same well-water or something. I have been messing around with a board game for about the past year. I have been doing many of the same things you have - building prototypes, researching on boardgamegeek and other places, etc. It's pretty amazing.<br /><br />So, here's an idea: if you still have some games that are unclaimed, we can exchange game copies. Mine has nothing to do with stories (really). I'd be happy to play the game and give feedback!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09455469112645117394noreply@blogger.com