* sort of explained....
Maybe it's just me, after a long week, but I have a tough time believing that an online simulation games, even the best of the serious game genre, is going to make die-hard converts. But then again, I'm in a cranky mood.
Dutifully I looked for online games that addressed environmentalism and that didn't alleviate the crankiness. Most are for kids**, dumbed down the topic, and were biased.
**I don't have kids so I have no idea how effective these tools may be in the goal of teaching a six year old to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
That said, of all the games visited those that addressed decision making were the most interesting to me. Because unlike Al Gore's movie which notes six easy fixes that will bring us back to the carbon levels of the - ready? - 1970s (which by the way, isn't all that fabulous of a benchmark) there is no such thing as an easy fix.
Every single decision I make regarding lightbulbs or appliances is a trade-off. I have an old(er) refrigerator. I can buy a superdeluxeenergystarrated one (lots of money, old one ends up in a landfill) or I can keep my existing 1982 beaut (burn extra coal to keep the ice cubes in a solid state). What is the more *environmentally correct* answer?
So, here's a list of decision making games that address the pros and cons to every decision the player makes as a mayor or politician. It may not change anyone's mind, but at least it shows that certain unpopular decisions aren't always (though often are) made in a vacuum.
So, here's a list of decision making games that address the pros and cons to every decision the player makes as a mayor or politician. It may not change anyone's mind, but at least it shows that certain unpopular decisions aren't always (though often are) made in a vacuum.
Great post Swedish Couscous - visually dynamic, and cranky. Love it. Have you checked out Garbage Dreams and World Without Oil? Would love your take on those game sites!
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