Daedalus’s EndDaedalus’s End

Engineering SolutionsEngineering Solutions

Development Problems Development Problems

Global EthicsGlobal Ethics

The High ConceptThe High Concept

““It’s SimIsle meets Railroad Tycoon It’s SimIsle meets Railroad Tycoon meets Age of Empires meets meets Age of Empires meets osEarth’s Global Sim meets osEarth’s Global Sim meets Capitalism meets Hidden Agenda Capitalism meets Hidden Agenda meets Tropico meets MIT’s Course meets Tropico meets MIT’s Course 1….” 1….”

Engineering EducationEngineering Educationfor the Global Agefor the Global Age

Virtual team work, round-the-clock engineering, Virtual team work, round-the-clock engineering, negotiation, scenario planning and strategic negotiation, scenario planning and strategic consulting - all through cross-cultural consulting - all through cross-cultural perspectives; engineering in a human context.perspectives; engineering in a human context.

Civil and environmental engineering in a real-Civil and environmental engineering in a real-world context of development - how global and world context of development - how global and local political compromises, economic pressures, local political compromises, economic pressures, social concerns, ecological dilemmas modify social concerns, ecological dilemmas modify engineering processes and solutions.engineering processes and solutions.

THE NEW EMPHASIS ON GLOBAL ETHICS...THE NEW EMPHASIS ON GLOBAL ETHICS...

The New Emphasis The New Emphasis on Global Ethics on Global Ethics

in Engineering Educationin Engineering Education

The new Engineering Criteria 2000 of the Accreditation Board for The new Engineering Criteria 2000 of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) that regulates university Engineering and Technology (ABET) that regulates university engineering education in the United States requires that students are engineering education in the United States requires that students are taught with a new emphasis on a more general, holistic ethics, which taught with a new emphasis on a more general, holistic ethics, which addresses the impact of engineering decisions on societies, cultures, addresses the impact of engineering decisions on societies, cultures, and ecologies on a global level.and ecologies on a global level.

But recent surveys have found that engineering ethics teaching in But recent surveys have found that engineering ethics teaching in most universities is treated as unimportant or even “irrelevant” by most universities is treated as unimportant or even “irrelevant” by both faculty and students. However, these surveys also show that both faculty and students. However, these surveys also show that engineering students, like other students, have a keen interest in engineering students, like other students, have a keen interest in controversial issues of environmentalism, Third World development, controversial issues of environmentalism, Third World development, international politics, and globalization. This suggests that the international politics, and globalization. This suggests that the problem lies in outdated, unengaging ethics teaching methods - an problem lies in outdated, unengaging ethics teaching methods - an clear opportunity for introducing an immersive, interactive, online, clear opportunity for introducing an immersive, interactive, online, multiplayer game that will help both faculty and students fulfill the multiplayer game that will help both faculty and students fulfill the goals of Criteria 2000 and go beyond in their enthusiasm.goals of Criteria 2000 and go beyond in their enthusiasm.

Live Action Role Play precedent: Live Action Role Play precedent: osEarth’s Global SimulationosEarth’s Global Simulation

Commercial LARP marketed to schools, universities, corporations and NGOsCommercial LARP marketed to schools, universities, corporations and NGOs Developed out of Buckminister Fuller’s vision of “The World Game” which Developed out of Buckminister Fuller’s vision of “The World Game” which

would teach world peace and planetary ecological stewardshipwould teach world peace and planetary ecological stewardship Teaches critical thinking, political negotiation, economic analysis through a Teaches critical thinking, political negotiation, economic analysis through a

variety of historical and cultural case studies in a context of global resource variety of historical and cultural case studies in a context of global resource exchange e.g. trade, global warming, energy crises….exchange e.g. trade, global warming, energy crises….

Pedagogical model based upon live roleplaying - but physical format is Pedagogical model based upon live roleplaying - but physical format is unwieldy and limiting. Self-contained format is decontextualized. unwieldy and limiting. Self-contained format is decontextualized. Unconvincing and non-immersive “reality”.Unconvincing and non-immersive “reality”.

The Game PlayersThe Game Players All players take on the role of consultant engineers to a particular interest group All players take on the role of consultant engineers to a particular interest group

concerned with major civil and/or environmental engineering projects in a large concerned with major civil and/or environmental engineering projects in a large complex simulation of a country or region, set in the recent future or past. complex simulation of a country or region, set in the recent future or past. Interest groups represent both global and local constituencies in the process of Interest groups represent both global and local constituencies in the process of development.development.

Player success depends initially on providing straightforward technical expertise Player success depends initially on providing straightforward technical expertise about specific engineering problems, but as career path progresses, the player about specific engineering problems, but as career path progresses, the player takes responsibility at higher levels of negotiation, and meets greater “non-takes responsibility at higher levels of negotiation, and meets greater “non-technical” pressure and responsibility. The social-political-cultural extension technical” pressure and responsibility. The social-political-cultural extension beyond the technical is at the heart of global ethics education.beyond the technical is at the heart of global ethics education.

Players must satisfy both the imperfect and contradicting demands of their AI-Players must satisfy both the imperfect and contradicting demands of their AI-directed “factions”, and provide a technical solution - which is likely to be directed “factions”, and provide a technical solution - which is likely to be imperfect because of the political complications, the emergence and overlapping imperfect because of the political complications, the emergence and overlapping of new problems, and the unreliability of information. Options available depend of new problems, and the unreliability of information. Options available depend on good relationships, available technology, hopefully reliable information, and on good relationships, available technology, hopefully reliable information, and canny data trading. Factors vary with faction. Consequences for winners/losers canny data trading. Factors vary with faction. Consequences for winners/losers seen in evolving simulated ecosystem and population over time. seen in evolving simulated ecosystem and population over time.

Gaming Development Gaming Development as Narrative, Simulation, and online RPGas Narrative, Simulation, and online RPG

<< Hidden Agenda

SimIsle:Missions in The Rainforest >>

Advantages of Online RPG : Secure environment for gameplay betweenmembers of different real world constituencies Real live global/cross-cultural dimension -play with students around the world. Engage with both AI-driven and real-world groups- cross-institutional play between schools, NGOs, engineering firms. game structure would be turn-based.Game time: 25 game years over a real week?

Above: Ages of Empire Online

Seductive FantasySeductive Fantasy Being an Engineer in a prestigious, powerful, important context Being an Engineer in a prestigious, powerful, important context

of global relations is already a highly attractive and suitable of global relations is already a highly attractive and suitable fantasy (like the corporate power fantasy of Capitalism and the fantasy (like the corporate power fantasy of Capitalism and the industrial/engineering fantasy of RailRoad Tycoon)- no need for industrial/engineering fantasy of RailRoad Tycoon)- no need for “fun” embellishments which would damage the appeal of realism “fun” embellishments which would damage the appeal of realism - SimIsle/Tropico suffers from too many “fun”/jokey additions. - SimIsle/Tropico suffers from too many “fun”/jokey additions. The aesthetic of realism (e.g. the use of TV news footage) and The aesthetic of realism (e.g. the use of TV news footage) and professionalism (e.g. engineering CAD style interface etc.).professionalism (e.g. engineering CAD style interface etc.).

Classroom/work setting and motivation for gameplay will help Classroom/work setting and motivation for gameplay will help maintain this fantasy.maintain this fantasy.

<< Capitalism 2

Railroad Tycoon II >>

Gameplay EnvironmentsGameplay Environments

The gameplay will take place in 3 major arenas - an “on-The gameplay will take place in 3 major arenas - an “on-site” first-person walk-around simulated landscape site” first-person walk-around simulated landscape where particular projects are situated; a “satellite-where particular projects are situated; a “satellite-computer” view of the region for scientific mapping; a computer” view of the region for scientific mapping; a “virtual engineering” lab/library where technical data is “virtual engineering” lab/library where technical data is stored. There is also a virtual chatroom for players.stored. There is also a virtual chatroom for players.

The simulated landscape will act as shared site of The simulated landscape will act as shared site of dynamic data representation (like Tropico) e.g. dynamic data representation (like Tropico) e.g. geological, environmental impact etc. Encourages geological, environmental impact etc. Encourages emotional attachment and allows immersive emotional attachment and allows immersive character/event encounters.character/event encounters.

<< Data representation through the landscape in Tropico

Gameplay: Data Gathering, Data Gameplay: Data Gathering, Data Constraints and Data TradingConstraints and Data Trading

In all three gameplay arenas, players aim to collect “data In all three gameplay arenas, players aim to collect “data modules” which represent different forms of cultural modules” which represent different forms of cultural communications (e.g. media reports), scientific analyses (e.g. communications (e.g. media reports), scientific analyses (e.g. environmental surveys), technical schema (e.g. construction environmental surveys), technical schema (e.g. construction plans), and political relationships (faction plans), and political relationships (faction contacts/negotiations).contacts/negotiations).

The capacity to collect “data modules” through exploration The capacity to collect “data modules” through exploration and analysis is constrained by TIME and MONEY. These factors and analysis is constrained by TIME and MONEY. These factors vary with faction allegiance. Special data modules can change vary with faction allegiance. Special data modules can change these factors.these factors.

Data modules are traded to enhance different players’ power Data modules are traded to enhance different players’ power and knowledge. Compromises about development decisions and knowledge. Compromises about development decisions are reached through this trading.are reached through this trading.

Examples of Multimedia Data Modules

Gameplay: Decision MakingGameplay: Decision Making Development projects of different kinds - energy, transport, Development projects of different kinds - energy, transport,

sanitation, environmental etc. - which can be implemented in sanitation, environmental etc. - which can be implemented in overlapping time intervals represent the “mission structure” of overlapping time intervals represent the “mission structure” of the game. Projects will impact on landscape and on each other.the game. Projects will impact on landscape and on each other.

Each “mission” - each project - is comprised of a series of time-Each “mission” - each project - is comprised of a series of time-pressured decisions about the engineering project that players pressured decisions about the engineering project that players must negotiate and trade for according to their differing agendas must negotiate and trade for according to their differing agendas and resources (e.g. the area size of flooding for a new dam).and resources (e.g. the area size of flooding for a new dam).

Case Study: China’s Three Gorges Case Study: China’s Three Gorges DamDam

The projects in the simulated landscape will be related to case studies of real-life projects and their problems in a multimedia archive. The projects in the simulated landscape will be related to case studies of real-life projects and their problems in a multimedia archive. These might be playable as “historical”, “what-if?” or “future” scenarios.These might be playable as “historical”, “what-if?” or “future” scenarios.

At higher levels of the player’s career (shifting from the local to the global in focus/scale of responsibility), the problems of the impact and At higher levels of the player’s career (shifting from the local to the global in focus/scale of responsibility), the problems of the impact and interaction of different kinds of projects (energy, industrial, environmental etc) in diverse locations become increasingly complex. The interaction of different kinds of projects (energy, industrial, environmental etc) in diverse locations become increasingly complex. The simulated landscape, virtual engineering, and negotiation game sections become more complex to reflect this, and the consequences of simulated landscape, virtual engineering, and negotiation game sections become more complex to reflect this, and the consequences of your project outcomes.your project outcomes.

Addressing a messy complexAddressing a messy complex of issues and interests: of issues and interests:

3 Gorges3 Gorges

Major prestige project for China; substitute for polluting coal power; Major prestige project for China; substitute for polluting coal power; flooding control; power and water for cities; vested financial and flooding control; power and water for cities; vested financial and political interests; lack of alternative technologies?political interests; lack of alternative technologies?

Major displacement of population; loss of water rights downriver; Major displacement of population; loss of water rights downriver; corruption; loss of national cultural treasure; ecosystem damage; corruption; loss of national cultural treasure; ecosystem damage; who can justify the expense?who can justify the expense?

Issues covered:Energy Crisis,Freshwater Crisis,Global Warming,Development,Global Politics,EnviromentalismOTHER LOCAL DEVELOPMENTENGINEERING PROJECTS

Factions, Informants, Allies Factions, Informants, Allies in the Three Gorges Case Studyin the Three Gorges Case Study

Examples of Factions in 3 GorgesExamples of Factions in 3 Gorges

Imperfect Solutions:Imperfect Solutions:Responsibility and ConsequencesResponsibility and Consequences

Players not only act as consultants for their factions but also Players not only act as consultants for their factions but also represent them on a planning committee which has the final say represent them on a planning committee which has the final say in all engineering and development project decisions. The in all engineering and development project decisions. The relative influence of the players on the committee will be relative influence of the players on the committee will be weighted according to the alliances/negotiations with other weighted according to the alliances/negotiations with other factions they have made, the technical expertise they have factions they have made, the technical expertise they have shown in the virtual engineering problems, and their reputation shown in the virtual engineering problems, and their reputation from previous projects.from previous projects.

These negotiations are expected to lead to imperfect solutions These negotiations are expected to lead to imperfect solutions rather than perfect 100% solutions - some interest will always be rather than perfect 100% solutions - some interest will always be hurt, some compromise made, some truths ignored (contrast hurt, some compromise made, some truths ignored (contrast perfectible gameplay in SimIsle/Tropico).perfectible gameplay in SimIsle/Tropico).

Game would be replayable from multiple perspectives, all with Game would be replayable from multiple perspectives, all with their own agendas and biases - tension with player’s own their own agendas and biases - tension with player’s own beliefs… preparation for the real world.beliefs… preparation for the real world.