Game Response

The game on BBC was a strategy game. We had two teams- the Norman and Saxons. We would choose if we wanted to play as Harold Godwinson or Duke William of Normandy. Once you choose which player, it determines which team you would be on. I played a few times playing both sides and trying different strategies. I had to stop Duke William from invading my country if I were Harold and I had to get past Harold if I were Duke William. I enjoyed how we had to think about shielding and staying back or attacking and the cause of that. I learned that it depends what state you are in to choose your next move correctly.

In the Battle of The Hastings Duke William of Normandy, King Harold Godwinson of England and King Harald Hadrada of Norway were in battle. Duke William was in Normandy, not able to fight with King Harold Godwinson due to the fact there was heavy wind pushing against him - so he could not sail over to England. The English then decided to march over to north over to King Hadrada to defeat him. In that battle, the English won. While both Kings were in north, the winds changed in the channels. William decided to cross from Normandy freely to battle with the English (Harold Godwinson). While William sailed to England, the English had to march back south for 250 miles to meet William. King Harold Godwinson placed his best warriors at the front. Williams disadvantage was that he had to charge up a hill to reach the English. William won this battle because the English failed to keep their shield walls in place and the Normans had a strategy to have a series of attacks and trick retreats. The english thought the normans were escaping so the english chased after them only to be killed – this would be an example of a trick retreat. Victory came to the normans at last.

I think this kind of game is a valuable learning experience because you aren't just taking notes and listening to your teacher or reading books, you're experiencing the past in your own way. I found this assignment very interesting, we haven't even really played any games in humanities before. This game seemed very necessary and fun and still applied to our topic- it had it's own facts, as well!