This document discusses using games to address wicked problems. It defines wicked problems as difficult to solve due to ambiguous, changing conditions with diverse perspectives. Examples include climate change and social injustice. Games can help by stimulating problem solving, strategy, and collaboration. The document outlines designing games through defining the problem, identifying genres, exploring mechanics and story, integrating elements, and evaluating outcomes. It provides examples of game genres, components, and tactics like social media that could engage global participation in crowdsourcing solutions. The goal is designing games that address problems in novel ways through trial and error.

1. Wicked Problems and Designing Games for Change
Dr. Cynthia Calongne
CTU Doctoral Symposium, April 17-19, 2014

2. Wicked Problems
• Hard to characterize
• No simple solution
• Ambiguous or complex
• Diverse perspectives
• Changing conditions
• Global impact

3. Wicked Problem Examples
• Public Planning and Policy
– Global climate change
– Human trafficking
– Drug trafficking
– Natural hazards
– Social injustice
– Healthcare
– Pandemics
– Nuclear

4. Addressing Wicked Problems
• Novel solutions for unique problems
– Normal tactics will fail
– Exploration by trial and error
– Solution defines the problem
• Potential steps lead to consequences
• Solutions are neither right or wrong
• A symptom of another problem
• Reciprocal cause and effect

5. Types of Wicked Problems
• Environmental
• Economic
• Spiritual
• Political
• Medical
• Social
• Moral

6. How Can Emerging Media Help?
Global Communication
Global Argument
Social Media
Presencing
Diversity
Games

7. MIT’s Action Research Global Wellbeing and Gross National Happiness Lab
Presencing and Emerging Media

9. Virtual-
Physioception
Motivation Intersubjective
Presencing
Collaborative Virtual
Environments (CVEs)
Transdisciplinarity
Body awareness
(Mehling, Gopisetty,
Daubenmier, Price,
Hecht & Stewart)
Virtual Self (Fox &
Bailenson; Ratan;
McCreery)
Social Presence (Biocca
et al.; Blascovich)
Player Identification (Van
Looy)
Supermorphic Persona
(Young)
Metacognition Theory
(Flavell)
Being (Maslow)
Grit (Duckworth)
Generativity (McAdams )
Intrinsic (Dickey)
Intrinsic v. Extrinsic
(Finkelstien)
Volunteerism (Shye)
Avatar appearance
(Baylor)
Presencing- (Senge
et. Al; Scharmer)
Transformed Social
Interaction
(Bailenson, Beall,
Loomis, Blascovich
&Turk; Bailenson)
Presence in VWs –
(Allmendinger,
Suter)
Dialogue (Bohm)
Transformed Social
Interaction in CVEs-
(Bailenson)
CVEs- (Montoya)
WoW- (Yee)
3D Visualization (Siau,
Nah, Mennecke &
Schiller; Sonnewald)
Manifesto
(Nicolescu,
Montuori)
Team Science
(Stokols)
Team cognition
(Salas & Fiore)
Complexity Theory
(Morin)
Wicked Problems-
(Rittel; Conklin)
Courtesy of Dr. Barbara Truman, research in presencing and transdisciplinarity

10. Presencing
Sharing
the
Social Space
within the
Mind Space
thru
Games &
Simulations
Everyone Matters

11. Benefits of Games
Games can stimulate
• Problem solving
• Critical thinking
• Digital literacy
• Strategy & tactics
• Motor skill development
• Collaboration
• Leadership & courage
• Socialization
Game-based learning
• Vision & creativity
• Sustainability
• Immersion
• Learning retention
• Heutagogy
• Knowledge networks
• Socio-technical skills
• Entrepreneurship

12. Game Design and Prototyping
Roleplay, Social Games and Simulations

13. Leveraging a Game-Based Culture
• Alternate reality games
• Augmented reality
• Games for change
• Serious games
• Gamification
• Social games
• MMORPGs
• MMOGs

14. Design Games for Change
• Define the problem and desired outcomes
• Identify the possible genres and tactics
• Explore the story and game mechanics
• Identify the EM tools, technology and resources
• Design the quests
• Integrate the story, quests and game mechanics
• Play the game
• Evaluate the desired outcomes and aesthetics

15. Design Goals, Game Elements and Outcomes

16. By Jane McGonigal http://janemcgonigal.com/learn-me/

17. Game Genres and Play Styles
Types of games
• Word, trivia or puzzle
• Scavenger or Treasure Hunt
• Action or adventure
• Real Time Strategy (RTS)
• Roleplay game (RPG)
• MMORPGs
• Arcade or Video games
• First Person Shooter (FPS)
• Simulations (Sims)
• Board or card games
• Mobile and social games
Play styles
• Individual or social
• Multiplayer cooperative
• Multiplayer competitive
• Everyone is a winner!
• Last man standing – PvP
• Player vs Environment
• Roleplay
• Capture the flag
• Team wins
• High score
• Social and free play games

18. Designing the Game Components

19. Design Concepts
Game Mechanics
• Rules
• Objectives
• Environment
• Setting
• Win Conditions
• Challenges
• Treasure, Loot or Gold
• Badges
• Reputation
Roleplay Games
• Story
• Terrain
• 2D or 3D Graphics
• Strategies
• Conflict
• Players
• Non-Player Character (NPC)
• Enemies or Monsters
• Competition

20. Game Controls and Observation

21. Game Scoreboard

22. A Few Design Distinctions
Strategy Game
• Game engine
• Modeling
– 2D diagrams and 3D objects
• Character Creation
• Level & Strategy Design
• System Integration
• Game Events
• Win Strategy - Objectives
• Quality Assurance
– Unit & Integration Tests
– Play and Usability Tests
Virtual World Game
• Virtual World Simulator
• Rapid Prototyping
– 3D Game Objects
• Bots (NPCs) and Avatars
• Linking Object Models
– Designing Holodecks
• Multimedia & Animations
• Rubrics - Objectives & Outcomes
• QA - Change Management
– Object Behavior Tests
– Integration, Play & Usability Tests

23. Requirements for the Environment & Aesthetics

24. Activity
• In groups of 3-5
–Identify a problem
–Identify a game genre for investigating it
»Explore the problem
»Explore possible solutions
• Discuss the forces at work
–The mnemonic = the words that end in –al

25. Prototyping the Game’s Design

26. A Game Designer Demos Her Game Badge

27. Emerging Media Tactics
• Global conversation
– Social networks
• Social media
• Semantic Web
• Mobile technology
• Cloud computing
• Game-based culture

28. Designing Collectible Card Games

29. Crowdsourcing the problem
Trial and error
Willingness to fail

30. Game Activity
• Using games for change
–Identify the EM strategies for your game
–Review its features and behavior
»How it uses the Web
»How it leverages socialization & collaboration
»How it supports individual play
• Describe the game mechanics
–How do the players “win” at the game?

31. Mayan Temple Game Simulation

33. Non-Player Characters (NPCs)

34. Players and NPCs
Story, characterization and
aesthetics
Development of quality models
and game prototypes

35. Collaboration, Communication and
Transdisciplinarity
Scene from a CTU Emerging Media Sick Bay

36. Immersive and Mobile Games
Courtesy of Dr. Andrew Stricker

37. Designing a Game Inside a Game
Photo by C. Calongne
Game Design by AgileBill Firehawk

40. Wicked Problems and Designing Games
for Change
Dr. Cynthia Calongne
CTU Doctoral Symposium, April 17-19, 2014
Game Activities