PETLab To Develop Fiscal Game For College Students

The National Academy of Public Administration and PETLab (an initiative of Parsons The New School for Design and Games for Change) have announced that they are to develop an game for college students about America’s fiscal future, funded by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation. The title is to launch on college campuses in spring 2009, and is to be free to students. The six-month project is to "produce a game to raise awareness, increase understanding of the underlying causes, and spark action on the looming fiscal problems facing America," by being played on the "physical space" of each campus, and by taking advantage of "the extended online lives of students through social media". It is to explore fiscal issues such as unsustainable entitlement programs, rising health care costs, and financing investments in alternative energy sources. In developing the game, PETLab is to collaborate with Area/Code, a game development company that specializes in in "cross-media and real-world gaming." The project team is seeking funding from corporations and corporate foundations to sponsor the game on three to five college campuses next spring, with a goal of engaging 1,500 or more students in the issues by playing the game. “Games are a great vehicle for exploring complex systems – like America’s fiscal problem,” said Colleen Macklin, Director of PETLab. “The first step in bridging differences and finding solutions is education, and games have already been proven as a powerful medium for learning. By encouraging players to try out different strategies, the game will help players see how the nation’s choices will impact their lives, their loved ones, and the lives of future generations.”