Real Talk by: StephO (Stephanie Owens)

In addition to backpacking, archery, and astronomy, Boy Scouts can now earn a merit badge in game design. “Games challenge us to overcome long odds, tell compelling stories, and work with or against one another,” says the official BSA press release. In addition to many other requirements (read the full list here), Scouts will analyze existing games, keep a notebook documenting their design including sketches, game rules, and a vision statement, and if possible interview a professional game developer. This is definitely a positive thing for the gaming community- it  shows video games can be a useful educational tool and acknowledges game design as a profession. The tools to develop a video game are becoming more and more accessible everyday, and hopefully we will continue to see game development built into education experiences.