Participatory Chinatown is a 3D game designed to assist with Boston's Comprehensive Planning process. I relate the public school networked Oregon Trail sessions. Participatory Chinatown allows the user to play a game of interacting with members of their community. The user picks an avatar and encounters hurdles that engage the user into provide community participation for comment on future development. The project was funded by the Macarthur Foundation at a cost of $170,000. Here is a video of game play:
Civic participation is one of the hallmarks of democracy, and our form of governance. Methods that would increase civic participation are beneficial, but costs should be examined to determine feasibility. Participatory Chinatown allows a community conversation to happen by proxy. by expanding that proxy, planners may revive more beneficial comment, at a lower cost.
I have to wonder why we need this proxy.
Soues in order of use:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA5sz-ymv6k&feature=player_embedded#!
http://www.participatorychinatown.org/
http://www.gamesforchange.org/play/participatory-chinatown/
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2010/05/06/chinatown_the_video_game/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDuSVXC7tRM&feature=related
Great examples and very insightful comments.
ReplyDeleteYou make a good point, why can't we just have these conversations without a game? Reasons that come to mind for me include a lack of time and a role-playing game is probably a lot more interesting than going to a public meeting. Maybe the public participation model really isn't effective and we do need to come up with something better. It's like what we discussed in class--different generations have different preferences so maybe we need to change our methods.
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