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Games on Climate Change: Identifying Development Potentials through Advanced Classification and Game Characteristics Mapping

Author

Listed:
  • Andreas Gerber

    (Empa—Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, CH-9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland)

  • Markus Ulrich

    (UCS Ulrich Creative Simulations GmbH, Pfingstweidstrasse 31, 8005 Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Flurin X. Wäger

    (Empa—Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, CH-9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland)

  • Marta Roca-Puigròs

    (Empa—Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, CH-9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
    Industrial Ecology Programme, Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway)

  • João S. V. Gonçalves

    (Empa—Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, CH-9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
    Department of Informatics, University of Zurich, Binzmühlestrasse 14, 8050 Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Patrick Wäger

    (Empa—Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, CH-9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland)

Abstract

The challenges posed to humanity by climate change require innovative approaches. Well-designed games are powerful tools with the potential to support solving climate related challenges. In this article, we present a mapping review study of games that address climate change issues (climate games). In a search and selection process, we identified 115 climate games that were classified by applying a newly developed game typology. This allowed gaining an overview of existing climate games and identifying potentials for future game development. The game classification revealed that the majority of climate games (75%) were designed for learning purposes and addressed heterogeneous target audiences such as students, professionals, or the “general public”. The identified games covered a wide range of characteristics, e.g., regarding the topic addressed, player interaction, game-play, level of abstraction, or the media used for play. Nevertheless, we identified areas where only few or no games were found. These “gaps” provide opportunities where future games could help solving climate challenges and include, amongst others, games designed for professionals to address specific needs and games that create a direct impact outside the game environment. Regarding game design, experimenting with the abstraction of games is currently underexplored and offers potential for future developments.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreas Gerber & Markus Ulrich & Flurin X. Wäger & Marta Roca-Puigròs & João S. V. Gonçalves & Patrick Wäger, 2021. "Games on Climate Change: Identifying Development Potentials through Advanced Classification and Game Characteristics Mapping," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-26, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:1997-:d:498417
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jasper N. Meya & Klaus Eisenack, 2018. "Effectiveness of gaming for communicating and teaching climate change," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 149(3), pages 319-333, August.
    2. Sterman, John & Booth Sweeney, Linda, 2002. "Cloudy Skies: Assessing Public Understanding of Global Warming," Working papers 4361-02, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Sloan School of Management.
    3. Robson, Karen & Plangger, Kirk & Kietzmann, Jan H. & McCarthy, Ian & Pitt, Leyland, 2015. "Is it all a game? Understanding the principles of gamification," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 58(4), pages 411-420.
    4. Jason S. Wu & Joey J. Lee, 2015. "Climate change games as tools for education and engagement," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 5(5), pages 413-418, May.
    5. John D. Sterman & Linda Booth Sweeney, 2002. "Cloudy skies: assessing public understanding of global warming," System Dynamics Review, System Dynamics Society, vol. 18(2), pages 207-240, June.
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    Cited by:

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