A Desert Journey

Kokology

1. A series of psychological games designed to uncover emotional and behaivoral traits of the players.

2. A popular term for the interpretation of the hidden meanings of human behavior and situational responses.


Playing the Game

When we set out to develop Kokology, our first and foremost goal was to make it fun. After all, who in their right mind would want to play a game that isn't? The basic concept was already there--our plan was to create a game where people would imagine themselves in everyday situations and unusual scenarios and respond to simple questions. The answers are interpreted from a psychological perspective and tell us something about the way that person's mind works. It's kind of like a Rorschach test that uses words instead of inkblots.

The concept was the easy part. The hard part was keeping the balance between science and fun. Professor Saito can vouch for the science; only you can be the judge of whether we've succeeded on the fun side. I'm not a psychologist myself, but i do understand enough about human nature to know that people don't like long introductions--especially not to a book of games. So I'm going to end by leaving you with a list of eight tips for making your experience with Kokology satisfying, enlightening, and fun.

Enjoy!



Tips for Playing

1. Say the first thing that pops into your head.

2. Play with other people if you can.

3. Don't try to predict the answers.

4. Be honest with yourself.

5. Be prepared

6. Don't read ahead.

7. Watch people's reactions (including your own)

8. Keep an open mind.

A Desert Journey

Your Desktop is spilling over with unfinished paperwork; the rest of the office has already gone home for the night. You look up at the clock and it laughs back. You wonder, with a sinking feeling inside, if this job will ever be done.

The professor drones on and on through a three-hour double lecture on the world's most boring subject. There's no space left for doodles in your notebook, and you're only thirty minutes into the class. You begin to think you've somehow been frozen in time.

Waiting can be a special form of torture, worse than any momentary pain. The combination of frustration and boredom can send even the bravest heart into a state of panic. Our first journey will bring us face-to-face with the infinite. Take a moment to prepare yourself, and enter the eternal desert...

1. You are riding a camel across the vast and empty expanse of a seemingly endless desert. You have ridden until you are near exhaustion. What words would you say to the camel that has carried you all the way?

2. Just at the point when you thought you'd die of thirst, a beautiful oasis appears. But someone has arrived before you. Who is this other traveler? (Use the name of a person you know.)

3. Time passes slowly in the desert, and it feels like an eternity before the lights of a town aprear on the horizon. You have finally reached your destination. What are your feelings as you come to your journey's end?

4. The time has come to part with the camel you have ridden for so long. Just as you dismount, a new rider climbs into the saddle to take your place. Who is the new rider?(Name another person in your life.)

Key to A Desert Journey

The desert and camel theme symbolizes the journey toward personal independence. Specifically, this scenario reveals your feelings about parting with a lover. Your answers show how you might react when the time comes to go your separate ways.

1. The words you spoke to the camel reveal what you might say to yourself when you realized love has been lost. Did you try words of encouragement like "We'll make it through somehow!" or "Don't worry, this can't go on forever"? Or was there a hint of despair-- "We're lost... this is hopeless... I think we're going to die out here"?

2. In psychological terms, the oasis symbolizes the key to solving one's problems. The person you encountered here could be someone who has helped or comforted you in the past or one you might turn to in times of need.

3. The town at journey's end stands for the order restored to your emotions once you've recovered from your broken heart. Your feelings upon reaching the town are your true feelings about finally getting over a lost love.

4. The new rider is a person toward whom you feel a secret rivalry, jealousy, or resentment. Is the person you named a rival in love or maybe someone who once broke your heart?