April 9, 2008

Lecture: SPECIAL SESSION: Simulation and Civilization IV

Class Reader: Games as Simulation

Salen, K. & Zimmerman, E. (2004). "Games as the Play of Simulation." From: K. Salen & E. Zimmerman, Rules of Play. MIT Press. Read pp. 421-458 EXCEPT: pp. 427-439 are optional. Password Protected Online Full-Text (PDF -- large file! ~3MB) [Get Password Help]

Assignment: BLOG POST: Civilization Lab #2

This assignment involves the class game: Civilization IV. See the game page for all of the information about where and how to play.

Last week, you investigated a feature of the game and were asked to link it to a class concept. This assignment is very similar, except that you will start with a class concept and try to link it to a feature of the game.

Part I. First, look at the sign-up sheet (Password Protected [Get Password Help]). for this assignment and choose a course concept or idea from the class. IMPORTANT: Please choose something you have not written about before and that is unfamiliar to you from earlier gameplay. Do not choose to write on a lecture or a reading that has already been the topic of one of your earlier blog posts.

Part II. Play the class game Civilization IV as a simulation of society. Try to discover how the class material you chose functions in the game. Describe the way that the class game simulates the class material. For example, a post might begin: "Ch. 13 and 14 of Culture & Technology link technology to the formation and maintenance of human identity. This idea appears in Civilization IV in a number of ways..."

Part III. Use the correct definitions and concepts from the class to assess the game. You could consider: What is the correct definition of the material or concept? What parts of the game did a good job simulating what we know about that class concept? What parts of the game did a poor job simulating what we know about that class concept?

REQUIREMENTS:

• Refer to at least one specific example from YOUR gameplay to support your arguments
• include at least one screenshot to show what you mean
• cite the exact source of the class material that you are reviewing (with direct quotations if this is helpful) [NOTE that no direct quotations are required from lectures.]

TIPS and ADVICE:

• To receive credit for this assignment, use enough detail in your writing that it is clear you understand the class material.
• These class concepts are chosen carefully -- connections can be made between all of them and the game material. (In other words: "This doesn't appear in the game at all" is not an answer to this assignment.)
• Remember that you may not write about the same game features as you did for the last blog post.
• One way to get ideas for this assignment is to look at other class member blogs to see what they found out in the last blog assignment. Their descriptions of game features could save you time exploring the game.

This assignment must be at least 300 words (about 1 page).

DEADLINE: Post your blog entry by 11 a.m. -- one hour before class begins. (You may want to select your topic as soon as you can.)