Many role-playing board games tend to focus on building immersive worlds or deep characters, but 'Dialect' focuses on creating an entire language. The central force of the game, which is played between three and five players, is to slowly build out a language and work to prevent it from dying.
The narrative in Dialect is dependent on how the players build their language. For instance, the choice of a certain word for conveying a given expression has the ability to change what happens next between the players. This aspect of the gameplay is meant as a metaphor for how language can shape experience.
More than just a fictional game, Dialect is rooted in the real study of language. In fact, the game was developed with contributions from David Peterson, a linguist and the language creator on HBO's 'Game of Thrones.'
Linguistic Board Games
The 'Dialect' Game Explores How Languages are Built and Lost
Trend Themes
1. Language Manipulation Games - The trend of language manipulation games provides an opportunity for game developers to create immersive experiences centered around language building and shaping.
2. Metaphorical Gameplay - Creating games with gameplay that serves as a metaphor for real-world concepts, such as language shaping experience, creates unique and thought-provoking gaming experiences.
3. Incorporating Real-world Studies - Developing board games that incorporate real-world studies, like linguistics, can provide educational and engaging experiences for players.
Industry Implications
1. Board Game Industry - The board game industry can capitalize on the trend of language manipulation games by creating innovative and immersive board games centered around language building and manipulation.
2. Game Development Industry - The game development industry has an opportunity to explore the trend of metaphorical gameplay and create unique gaming experiences that challenge players' thinking and understanding.
3. Education Industry - The education industry can benefit from the incorporation of real-world studies, such as linguistics, into board games, providing students with engaging and interactive learning experiences.