A federal budget video game?
According to mashable.com, USA Today reported that the Obama administration’s Bowles-Simpson fiscal commission has been working with Microsoft to make a computer game about managing the US federal budget and deficit. The game is only one small aspect of the commission’s broader objectives and ideas for dealing with the nation’s rising deficit and other fiscal challenges. The game will be available to anyone with access to a computer, where the user will be tasked with balancing the federal budget. While the game will not be a completely realistic simulation of the task, as it would be too complex and no one would want to play, it will embody the true and difficult nature of the task. The commission hopes the players will become more sympathetic to the difficult and controversial decisions the commission will have to make as the game demonstrates that there are no ideal options in balancing the budget.
This is an excellent example of how serious games may be used to increase public involvement in and their understanding of government tactics dealing with national problems. It is easy to point fingers and blame the government for their inability to solve problems like health care reform, jobs loss, and education when totally unaware of the complexities and obstacles of the task. By creating serious games, the federal government is not only encouraging individuals to help “solve” the problems, but to also support public involvement in and knowledge of the challenges the government is tasked with overcoming. Serious games may also create a greater level of support, sympathy and interest in the government’s efforts to solve these problems, decreasing the gap between the people and their government.
Read the article on mashable.com.
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Tags: development, learning and entertainment technologies, technology
