The next steps in our process will be the designing and implementing of a working interface. Within this process we will explore metaphors surrounding the idea and practice of gossip and collective narrative. Several of the metaphors being explored are; bathroom graffiti, the office water cooler, and passing notes or talking on the phone.

Bathroom graffiti----connectivity map, inbox

The office water cooler----exchanging gossip anonymously, trading post

Passing notes or talking on the phone---editor/writer, original gossip

Level 1 of the card sorting process determined the two groups of elements (playing the game and strategy).

In this level the reaction to the credibility card made it clear that the title of this card need to be clarified and/or changed. The second level of sorting further distilled the layers of the game.

It was determined that there are two basic layers to the game. The first is the simple act of playing the game, and the second is the strategizing involved in engaging in the game on a deeper level. The functions or actions dealt with in level 2 began to create 3 or 4 areas of activity or objects. These areas have some fluidity between the tow basic layers and distinguish levels of functionality.

The Meta Level of the game needs to be addressed. Will people be able to log on as audience members to read the collective narratives that may be produced by the strings of gossip? Will the host’s function be in determining the themes of games and the direction of them?