Games is a big topic at Agile 2009. Not computer games, but participatory, experential learning games where the players learn about the dynamics of organizations and Agile software development. I've been to several great sessions where games played main role, e.g. The Bottleneck Game and Applying Systems Thinking for Organizations through Play.

My take on the popularity of experential learning games at the conference is that we've tried for some time with all the hard-hitting, rational arguments for why Agile is a better way of developing software but those arguments fall short with people that are deeply rooted in other ways of seeing the world. To be able to reach out to those people the Agile community needs ways to provide those people with experiences that will convince both intellectually and emotionally. Experiental learning games is a great way of doing that. And fun too.

By Thomas Blomseth