Rotterdam Climate Proof Hero, the game

Transcription

1 Rotterdam Climate Proof Hero, the game

2 How to communicate a wonderfully complex vision for a better world?

3 Introduction Rotterdam like many other Delta Cities faces an increasing amount of challenges due to the changing climate These challenges include water management. the handling of precipitation, sea, river and ground water, and heat management, due to the heat island effect. To successfully adapt to the changing climate, to become climate proof, a holistic approach is needed. Rotterdam Climate Proof offers this approach. However to become a worldwide frontrunner with their vision strong communication is needed. In this document a massive multi player online serious game is proposed to achieve strong, easy-to-use international communication.

4 Adapt to the inevitable climate change and see opportunities

5 Background IBM Extreme Blue challenged five ambitious university students to conceptualize an easy to use, internationally applicable, innovative way of communicating Rotterdam Climate Proof to various stakeholders and raising awareness to the changing climate It became apparent that classical ways of communicating, like books, wiki s and presentations are insufficient to communicate complex visions in an age which demands an ever increasing amount of interactivity. Computer games allow for the interaction with complex environments and give the opportunity to learn through interaction. Combining this concept of serious games with the explosion of online social networking provides a way of viral communication. And by having potentially millions of users interact in the same world Massive Multiplayer Online Games (MMO s) give the opportunity to reach massive amounts of people at minimal cost in a fun and entertaining way.

6 Learn through interaction with the world and with other players

7 Game Features To achieve the goal of communicating Rotterdam Climate Proof and raising awareness the following features were selected. These features provide a basis for possible implementation of the game. The features are explained and highlighted by using the created prototype Non-traditional 2. Social Platform Based 3. Serious Content 4. Five Minutes Strategy 5. Massive Multiplayer Online 6. Showcase for Solution Providers

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9 1. Non-traditional The combination of different gaming elements such as MMO(Massive Multiplayer Online), city management, serious and social gaming gives the player a new kind of gaming experience Innovative Graphical User Interface(GUI) allows for seamless zooming and depiction with different levels of detail Social Platform Based Social networks provide the backbone for simple forms of communication such as notifications. You can easily invite your friends on Facebook or Hyves to join the game, the words will spread and this gives a viral element The social platforms provide users with an extra identity and no extra registration is needed to enter the game

10 Benchmark your performance against a Key Performance Indicator(KPI)-tree. Experience disasters like floods and sewage overflows. Influence the world you live in. Experience the failure or success of other players.

11 3. Serious content Climate changes will be simulated in the game based on real predictions in real time with fast progressing time in the gaming world, which will convey the urgency of the changes. Solutions and actions used by Rotterdam Climate Proof will be modeled in the game, and the players will understand their functioning through playing Five minutes strategy This strategy works in a way that the player plays for 5 minutes and the gamer then waits in real time for the actions to evolve in the simulated world. Many successful online games(e.g. Mafia Wars and FarmVille) are based on this strategy. As free time become more valuable people are shifting from economic value to time value, the 5 minutes strategy allow the player to play the game during a short break.

12 Manage your city. Expand and earn money through taxes. Adapt to changing climate. Research new climate adaptation strategies. Collaborate with your friends. Trade solutions with them. Your actions affect the world!

13 5. Massive Multiplayer online A very large number of players can interact with each other within a simulated game world. This adds to both to the social context and the gaming experience. Games like World of Warcraft and EVE Online employ this idea on a large scale. Massive Multiplayer Online Games allow for competition and corporation in terms of trading, collaborative research, ranking and popularity contests. Also direct conflict like the sending of disasters might be implemented Showcase The game provides a platform for solution providers in the water/climate sector to insert the models of their solutions in the game. This adds to the business value of the game in terms of advertisement and sponsoring opportunities. This is also a way to keep the game fun by continuously adding new content.

14 Play the game, save the world

15 Summary & Discussion By combining features successful communication of the Rotterdam Climate Proof vision is possible The five minute strategy allows for casual gaming while still learning about the changing climate and available adaptation methods. The fast changing climate and the ability for people to interact with the changes is a unique way of raising awareness to the urgency. Social networks provide a way to create a massive multiplayer online community in which people can compete and collaborate. And by opening the game world for solution providers additional methods of advertisement and promotion become available. The vision of using games for communication could be presented at the Shanghai World Expo in 2010 as a innovative approach to solving climate issues. Because new ways of conveying ideas must be found and applied in order to ensure long term safety and prosperity for the world.

16 pictures: sxc.hu Kuiper, J., Stefanov, H., Phull, R., Liu, J., Tocca, D. For IBM Extreme Blue 2009