New “Big Game” To Engage Young Adults
On America’s Fiscal Future
National Academy and PETLab Partner to Create Game for College Campuses
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 10, 2008 -- The National Academy of Public Administration (National Academy) and PETLab (an initiative of Parsons The New School for Design and Games for Change) announced today that they are joining forces to develop an innovative game for college students about America’s fiscal future. The Peter G. Peterson Foundation is funding development of this “Big Game,” which will launch on college campuses in spring 2009.
This six-month project will produce a game to raise awareness, increase understanding of the underlying causes, and spark action on the looming fiscal problems facing America. The game will be played on the physical space of each campus, and take advantage of the extended online lives of students through social media, as well. It will explore difficult fiscal issues like unsustainable entitlement programs, rising health care costs, and financing investments in alternative energy sources.
The Hon. David M. Walker, President and CEO of the Peterson Foundation, is enthusiastic about the potential of this new learning format. “We believe this creative medium shows real promise for engaging young people on these critical fiscal issues,” said Walker. “This approach will reach out to young people where they connect with each other – on college campuses and the Internet, through a medium they embrace – competitive games.”
Fellows of the National Academy who are recognized experts in related matters of public policy, administration and management will be working with leading game designers at PETLab to conceptualize, prototype and test the game. PETLab is one of the first university centers dedicated to developing games in the public interest. In developing the game, the team will be collaborating with Area/Code (www.areacodeinc.com), a game development company specializing in cross-media and real-world gaming.
“As a non-partisan, independent voice for good government, the National Academy of Public Administration is thrilled to be working with PETLab and the Peterson Foundation on this important initiative,” said Jennifer Dorn, President and CEO of the National Academy. “The game we develop will create new incentives for America’s rising generation to learn about and participate in solving some of the most critical and complex issues facing America.”
“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.”
Participation in the game will be free to students, and the National Academy will draw on the strength of its network of 600 Fellows -- many of whom serve as university presidents, deans and distinguished professors – to provide access to universities campuses. Fellows Donna Shalala, President of the University of Miami, and Neil Kerwin, President of American University in Washington DC, have already agreed to host the game on campus.
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.
About the National Academy
The National Academy of Public Administration (www.napawash.org) is a non-profit, independent coalition of top public management and organizational leaders that tackles the nation’s most critical and complex challenges. With a network of more than 600 distinguished Fellows and an experienced professional staff, the national Academy is uniquely qualified and trusted across government to provide objective advice and practical solutions based on systematic research and expert analysis. Established in 1967 and chartered by Congress, the National Academy continues to make a positive impact by helping federal, state and local governments respond effectively to current circumstances and changing conditions.
About PETLab
PETLab, which stands for Prototyping, Evaluation, Teaching and Learning Laboratory, is a joint initiative of Parsons The New School for Design (www.newschool.edu/parsons/) and the non-profit Games for Change (www.gamesforchange.org). It was launched in December 2008 through a grant from the MacArthur Foundation’s digital media and learning initiative. PETLab develops new games, simulations and play experiences that encourage experimental learning and investigation into social and global issues. It is a place for testing prototyping methods and the process of collaborative design with organizations interested in using games as a form of public interest engagement. For the latest news from PETLab, visit http://cdt.parsons.edu.
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