PsychOUT! is simply a fun (but potentially dastardly) review game designed to be used in the high-tech classroom. Of course, it doesn't HAVE to be played in the classroom, but that was its design.

Number of Players:

At least three people are needed to play this game. One player to represent each team (only two teams allowed), and a master of ceremonies, or MC, who runs the program and makes the tough decisions when they need to be made. Although the game can be played with this few people, my experience is that it plays best when there are at least 5 players per team (11 people).

Some Assembly Required:

The game is played from the questions and answers pre-prepared (usually) by the MC. These are typed into an ASCII file which the program reads from to play the game. As a conceptual example of how I intended this to work, consider:

• When I prep a class, I try to have about 3 chapters covered per exam.
• When using PsychOUT!, I create a complete Q&A file of at least 50 but sometimes 75 questions for each chapter.
• Just before the exam, I play PsychOUT! with the students to review the chapters we covered in class. The program allows me to select (for example) my chapter 7, 8, or 9 Q&A file for round 1, or 2, or 3.
• On the other hand, I could select 1, 2, 3, 4, or all 5 question sets within a round from just one chapter, or mix them between chapters.
• In fact, I could use just one file for all rounds (assuming I only wanted to review one chapter), or any two rounds (25 questions per round).
• This flexibility improves the replay value of the game even when you might want to review the same chapters on a second review. For example, if you used chapter 7 for round one the first time, use it either for round two or three the next time you play and the questions will be new to the students.

Technical Requirements & Recommendations:

• An IBM compatible PC running Windows. [REQUIRED]
• A projection system linked to the computer. [RECOMMENDED]
• A sound system (also linked to the computer). [RECOMMENDED]

The game was designed to be played in a classroom that allows computer output to be projected to the big projection screen at the front of the room.

As long as visibility isn't an issue, the game could be played on any PC. If visibility IS an issue, then of course a projection system is required.

Obviously sound effects can add to the fun of the game. Nonetheless, a sound system is not required because the sounds are optional (the theme music is very... memorable). On the other hand, if you have a sound system and the effects get annoying, they can be turned off.