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The game of (Ole) life

By Mara Kumagai Fink '11
April 22, 2009

Life at St. Olaf has been photographed, videoed and written about, but can it be played? Aaron Heidgerken '09 thinks it makes for great game material.

Heidgerken, a math and physics major from Rapid City, S.D., created a board game that simulates the life of a St. Olaf student for his Interim art class. He calls it "The Hill." Heidgerken says the game reflects his experiences on the Hill. Accordingly, it includes cards like "You get a good room draw number," "Package slip in wrong P.O. box," "You and one of your professors have 'ideological differences,'" and "Friday Flowers! Take another turn."

As players move around the board they gather classes and debt and have to divide up their time between the classroom, work and study. When they pass the "finals" area of the board they roll to see if they passed their classes; if they do, they add that class to their transcript. The first player to accumulate 10 classes in their transcript wins the game.

Heidgerken has finished designing the game's box and is currently working on the instruction manual. He hopes to market the game to local businesses.

Watch the video story, below ...

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.