During classroom “council meetings” in the form of guided group discussion (supported within curriculum materials), players or player groups would propose their legislation as a design solution for the issue. In order to attempt to solve or mitigate the environmental crisis, data collected within the game is used as evidence to propose and support legislation. In this scenario, players collect data on tree growth and populations, soil erosion, and animal species that rely on forest habitat. During their investigations, players collect and analyze data from the underlying ecosystem simulation. The ecological crisis event prompts a player-led, and teacher-guided, investigation into the issue. For example, the rate of logging causes deforestation, which affects habitat and soil erosion, and limits progression of civilization goals that require tree resources. In the process of reaching their civilization goal, player actions affect the simulated ecosystem within the game and trigger a related ecological crisis. Plants, animals, moisture, pollution, and other environmental factors within the simulation can be influenced by player actions. The game world contains a simulated ecosystem that runs continuously, whether or not players are active. Building a house for each player requires coordination between foresters and miners (for wood and stone resources), and farmers or hunters (for food resources to advance skills). Thus, players coordinate their avatars with specialized skills to collaboratively achieve the civilization goal, all while consuming construction and food resources. Furthermore, players advance their avatar’s skills by spending energy, gained by consuming food products, while performing tasks (harvesting, chopping, mining). Player avatars can gain skills related to any role, but through a structured achievement system, the rewards of advanced skills motivate players to specialize in one role (expert farmers with advanced harvesting skills gain higher yields than novice farmers). Each avatar role (logger, farmer, miner, and hunter/fisher) has the ability to gain skills and knowledge related to two or more natural resources (wood, soil, plants, stone, metal, animal products, water). Players must work together to complete the civilization goal, because each goal is designed to require contributions from players with different roles in the game. For example, the teacher would like to address concepts of resource availability and interdependence within ecosystems, so she triggers the appropriate scenario.
Each scenario requires players to engage with certain scientific concepts and practices, allowing teachers to cater to the needs of their class. Each investigation includes data collection and analysis, and a legislative debate that prompts scientific explanation and argumentation from evidence.Įach scenario begins with a civilization-building goal that is introduced by the teacher through the teacher interface. Attempts to meet this goals cause related ecosystem events or crises, catalyzing player-led investigation and problem solving to manage the tension between advancing the civilization and protecting the environment. As outlined in Table 1, each scenario begins with a goal related to advancing technology and developing a civilization. We will allow players to purchase the game in-development (through Steam Early Access and other channels), providing valuable feedback and growing the community organically.Įco has received both Phase I and II funding through a US Department of Education SBIR (Small-Business Innovation Research) grant: Įco is designed as an open-exploration game with specific civilization-building goals or events that can be triggered or emphasized by the teacher in order to meet specific learning goals. Through educational partners (Amplify, BrainPOP, GlassLab) and commercial partner Valve (plus distribution through AppStore and Google Play), we can potentially reach millions of players and teachers. We anticipate Eco’s unique virtual-world will appeal to educational and commercial markets, and we plan to focus on both. The prolonged success of the players’ civilization relies on successfully gathering and analyzing data while collaboratively solving environmental challenges. Strange Loop Games (creators of the PC/PlayStation game Vessel and the biology simulation game SimCell) will develop a simulated ecosystem within a world virtually inhabited and affected by players as they build a society.
Seattle, Washington (PRWEB) June 18, 2015Įducational trailer featuring classroom testing: Įco is an online multiplayer game that addresses the need to engage middle school science players and prepare them to be environmentally literate citizens with 21st century skills.
0 kommentar(er)
