Fix 13

Ten Thousand Hours Collaborating

The game Settlers provides many opportunities for collaboration amongst players.  I noticed the strong community amongst Settler players when I had to interview a player at level 25 or higher.  My person I chose was playing the game mostly to help others improve and reach goals that he had already achieved.  He works with others on a daily basis, a minimum of 8 hours, to make sure others are as successful as him. 

Today I also encountered a great opportunity for collaboration when I completed an adventure with 2 other players.  In this adventure their was a mutual regard that each will put in the work to complete the adventure.  McGonigal (2011) mentions mutual regard as putting in your best effort with respect of other players and still encountering a challenge. (p. 216) Upon completion we each received our rewards and completed the challenge.  I, however, did learn something new when I completed the adventure.  I learned to never “claim” the adventure if you are invited to the adventure.  Luckily, I have guild members who understand that completing things are a learning process.  I am learning to establish the common ground that McGonigal mentions. In completing the adventure together we were also in co-op mode in which we “…work together to defeat an AI opponent to increase each other’s scores, rather than competing against each other.” (McGonigal 2011, p. 219) This is what I like most about Settlers; we are all working together to help each other achieve more instead of working against each other. One of my most achievable rewards I received so far in the game is the “Dark Castle”.  When I first started playing I visited other peoples settlements to see how far they were and the first thing I noticed was the dark castles and wondered how much I would have to work to get one of them (not knowing what it was for).  I finally got one and am very excited about it!! J

I have also defeated sector 8 and 6 because of my guild members.  I had a few of my guild members ask me what I needed to build my army to defeat these sectors.  After giving me these resources they then gave me more to “level up” my most valuable buildings.  I would not have gotten as far as I have without the help of others and this is something that I greatly appreciate. The people who helped me I would say function under the term emergensight.  McGonigal (2011) mentions emergensight as being, “…the ability to thrive in chaotic collaborative environment.” (p. 224) I was recently watching a conversation a few guild members were having.  They were discussing their colors of production and mentioned using math when figuring out the perfect production.  They then mentioned not being able to tolerate having red at all.  I then began to think about their mental use of maintaining a “green” level of production along with completing adventures and helping lower level guild members.  Their world to me seems like it is chaotic, especially because I struggle to maintain green production levels and nothing else.

Overall, I think Settlers would not be a successful game if it weren’t for the collaborating aspect. Even if you are not communicating with others to reach higher levels you may still be reading forums and other resources that were made to help people.  You are still in a way using collaborative tools that were meant to help you succeed.  I know I made it this far with the help of others and would not have reach the level I am at without the help.


McGonigal, J. (2011). Reality is Broken. New York: Penguin Group.