Does Humor Belong in Games?

I’ve been creating games in one form of another since I was 10 years old.

Alllll the way back in 5th grade, I had an amazing teacher, Mrs. Clemente, who assigned the class a book report. This book report could be delivered via any medium of our choosing (ie; it didn’t have to be a boring written report about what happened in the book)!

I chose to deliver my report in the form of…. a game show!

It was a scripted game, where my best friend played the host, 2 other friends got to deliver the funny/incorrect answers, and I played the “straight man” who gave the correct answers to questions about the book.

The class laughed and cheered, but I have a clear snapshot in my head of Mrs. Clemente howling with laughter, wiping away tears, as she watched. As I look back, that was a defining moment for me.

I went on to a career where I got the opportunity to create digital games with an educational purpose - from literacy to science. Included along with that learning goal, was always my own personal goal of making the learner laugh, and whenever possible, giving their teacher a chuckle as well.

So, to answer my own rhetorical question from the title* - abso-flunking-lutely!

Just like those educational games, there are many goals for any game - from gaining points and winning to connecting with friends. And for me, one of the goals is always going to be causing anything from a quick-nasal exhale, to a chuckle accompanied by an eye-roll and a groan, to a face-cramping, tear-inducing roar.

*Shout out to Frank Zappa for the title of this post. And yes, humor also belongs in music.