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Games, Social Simulations, and Data—Integration for Policy Decisions

Author

Listed:
  • Peter Landwehr
  • Marc Spraragen
  • Balki Ranganathan
  • Kathleen M. Carley
  • Michael Zyda

Abstract

In this article, the authors discuss the development of the SUDAN GAME, an interactive model of the country in the time period leading up to the Sudanese referendum on the secession of the South. While many simulations are designed to educate about their subjects, the SUDAN GAME is intended to be a prototype for policy making via gameplay. It is implemented within COSMOPOLIS, a massively multiplayer online game that is currently undergoing development. In this article, the authors discuss the game’s design and how it can be used for policy development, with a focus on the underlying model and some discussion of the COSMOPOLIS implementation. They situate the game relative to other games that have crowdsourced serious problems and discuss the meaning of the policy solutions and collaboration witnessed along players. They conclude with a discussion of future development to be done to improve and expand upon the concepts used in their game.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Landwehr & Marc Spraragen & Balki Ranganathan & Kathleen M. Carley & Michael Zyda, 2013. "Games, Social Simulations, and Data—Integration for Policy Decisions," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 44(1), pages 151-177, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:simgam:v:44:y:2013:i:1:p:151-177
    DOI: 10.1177/1046878112456253
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Seth Cooper & Firas Khatib & Adrien Treuille & Janos Barbero & Jeehyung Lee & Michael Beenen & Andrew Leaver-Fay & David Baker & Zoran Popović & Foldit players, 2010. "Predicting protein structures with a multiplayer online game," Nature, Nature, vol. 466(7307), pages 756-760, August.
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