Benefits

The idea behind The Winning Game is that videogames and AI in the software can be used to build an intelligent computer game coach that players can use, and within weeks of playing the game they will begin to see positive changes in their life as they practice the same basic ideas that help them get better at the embedded game.

During play, the game tracks the user and the AI assesses what they are or aren't doing well relative to the winning process.

It can then offer the player specifically calibrated coaching and advice, both in-game and after the game, which when utilized by the player, will result in increased performance.

As the player integrates the coaching model into advancing at successive levels, they will not only get better at the game, but also begin to establish a system where they use self-critical feedback and reflection to drive themselves to continually improve.

While we know that this is the process that many game-players use implicitly, the Winning Game presents this process in a more explicit mechanism for training the user at a higher-level in such skills, so they can apply the process more universally.

When people learn to do this and see the results of such action in the game, they can begin to easily apply the same principles and techniques outside of the game.

After completing a task in the Winning Game players are asked to consider the following questions, regardless of whether they win or lose:

  1. What did you want to achieve?
  2. What did you actually achieve?
  3. What caused the gap?
  4. What are you going to do about it next time?

At the end of each round, and the end of the game, the player will be presented with an even deeper assessment of their play, and the ability to choose key reflective points they would like to work on more specifically in the next round of play in the form of a Personal Development Plan.

For example, if the player felt they could have improved their time management skills, the game will recalibrate towards this particular goal in the next round.

This basic element of play-reflect-improve is key to providing the explicit training model the game offers its player.

The Winning Game includes 12 strategies for thinking correctly under pressure (T-CUPS). These include Avoiding Unnecessary Corners, Maintaining Momentum, Awareness of Faulty Tactics and Sticking to the Basics.

Players are given structured opportunities to practice these skills.

To make links between the T-CUPS strategies taught in the Winning Game and the academic learning experience of the pupils, TPLD working in conjunction with teachers have mapped the TCUPS to the indicators linked to the four capacities of the Curriculum for Excellence and Assessment is for Learning (successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors).

  
  • Winners maintain momentum by keeping the same level of performance throughout an activity, avoiding complacency and by securing their actual achievements before moving on to their next goal.
  • Winners patiently create opportunities by investing the time to lay the foundations for their success, even if it is boring, tedious or repetitive.
  • Winners seize opportunities by acting decisively during critical moments within the available timeframe.
  • Winners stick to proven tactics by resisting any temptation to change a proven method with something new, however creative it may be.
  • Winners stick to basics by memorising the fundamental building blocks of their field of activity to overcome any psychological barriers and by not experimenting during critical moments.
  • Winners maintain their quality of counter pressure by correctly identifying the nature of any one-on-one situation they are involved with and by countering pressure with will power.
  • Winners avoid unnecessary corners by mapping these corners against their given activity and constantly debriefing (by asking "am I trapping myself in a corner?" and "is this a corner?").
  • Winners are being thorough by becoming practical perfectionists, striving for perfect results yet going for the best possible ones. They avoid short cuts by being strict and orderly in completing tasks.
  • Winners are aware of faulty tactics by never being afraid to say "Winners make mistakes but they never repeat them", not falling in love with their ideas and through constant debriefing.
  • Winners maintain self control by reminding themselves that under pressure there is more time than they feel, adhering to T-CUP rules when negative thinking occurs and by being a noble winner.
  • Winners are being decisive by moving fast enough between making a decision and actualising it and by quickly prioritising their options against their "corners" to avoid them.
  • Winners are managing their time by being continually aware of the available timeframe, prioritising their tasks and splitting large tasks into small chunks whilst committing to any deadlines.
 
Distributed under license by THE WINNING GAME LLP (a partnership between Winning Scotland Foundation, TPLD Ltd. and Winning Enterprises (Achievement Oriented Training Systems) Ltd.