Start a Video Game Discussion Club!

If your youth org is looking to bring in more tech-friendly programs into the mix, a video game discussion club just may be the program you've been looking for. Similar to book or film discussion clubs, game discussion clubs like Kotaku's Game Club meet every month to play and discuss their experiences playing a popular video game. After the game is played, participants share their thoughts on different subjects such as story, gameplay, plot, narrative, character development, fandom, writing and design.

If you are interested in starting a video game discussion club consider these tips:

1. With your teen's input, select a suitable title that is both teen friendly (watch those ratings, E for Everyone games are a good start) and is either really popular (ie Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword) or available on all the major systems so no one who is interested will be left out.

2. Make the game available to all, if your teens do not have access to the game, you can set up a gaming system at your youth org to provide an opportunity for your teens to play. 

3. Set up a discussion destination and a meeting time. Game club meetings can be either online or at your youth org. Game clubs have found success utilizing Facebook, dedicated game club blogs, discussion forums.

4. Don't forget retro gaming! Most major video games licenses have a substantial back catalog of related titles. Why not offer a classics comparison element to your discussions and cover both the history of gaming and the advancements in gameplay and design.

5. There has been a tremendous amount of writing both scholarly and critical of video games, provide links to interesting articles to help deepen discussion and promote further reading.

For great examples of an online gaming club check out Kotaku's Gamers Club discussions on:  
Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword 
Uncharted 3 
Gears of War 3
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