Games Master should agree their involvement in preparing for games with game licencees and their partners. Here are some of the more usual planning arrangements that should be considered before playing the game (these can also be found in more detail in the Games Master Training Manual):

Venue

Future City Game is a two day activity. The venue serves as a base for participants over the two days of the game and therefore should be fit for that purpose.  Transportation may be required from the venue to local parts of the city relevant to the game. The venue should have the following characteristics:

			Accommodate up to 40 people - an extra area for socialising outside the room is also ideal
			Catering facilities for light refreshments and lunch
			Comfortable - functional space with close proximity to toilets and other facilities.
			Is accessible for people with disabilities - it could be a drop in centre, a community centre or area in a shopping arcade
			Safe and secure

Equipment

The Games Master will need to ensure that there is:

			Five large tables for player teams - each team has five players
			Space around tables to create a team area for each team
			Table, laptop, data projector and screen for the Games Master preparation
			Wall space and permission to hang material around each team area and the Games Master's table
			Internet access on site or conveniently located close by
			Five sets of the game kit for the five teams

Future City Game kit

The Future City Game kit comes in three parts:

			Game boxes - five boxes of manufactured kit
			Electronic Resources - downloadable, accompanied by style guide and to be translated or completed by Games Masters
			Consumables - five sets of each to be purchased or provided by the game licensee, partner organisation or Games Master and to be included in the game box

Recruit players

The players will be decided at the planning stage by the game licensees, partner organisations and Games Masters.

There are 25 players in each game, allocated into five teams.

The Games Masters primary role is to ensure that there is a good mix of players so that teams are made up of people from different professional, social and cultural backgrounds.

Recruit non-players

Non players are:

			Co Games Masters - as a facilitator, host or representing the game licensee or partner organisation. Co Games Masters will have attended Games Master Training
			Practitioners - specialists in their field
			Community Members - Representitives living or working in the location where the game is played
			General Public - people the players encounter in 'Real world testing'
			Observers - Typically observers are from organisations interested in unding the game, supporting its continued use in wider programmes in the city or in the game as a tool to support sustainable urban development

Briefing non-players

Games Masters are responsible for briefing non-players about their role in relation to Future City Game. Key information is provided to the Games Master in the Games Master Training Manual.

Preparing the local dossier

The local dossier should include:

			Maps of local area
			Key statistical information - demographics, outline statistics relating to the four persepectives: economic, social, cultural and environmental

Devise the programme and invitations

Invitations should be sent out to players and non-players in advance of the game. Pre-game survey and information about the Warm up game should also be circulated.