Serious Simulations

play either ATS or HF -American Truck SimulatorLinks to an external site. or House Flipper

The games selected for this lab are either serious or semi-serious simulations. Each game has an ideology, aesthetic, and a pedagogy to teach you things (including the game mechanics). There are four fundamental questions to answer:

What does the game mean? (think about stories, relationships, signs)

How does the game mean? (think about mechanics)

When does it mean the most and the least? (think across the experience of the interface)

Is there any other way to make this game mean what it does?

“Mean” in this context is asking you to engage in serious reflection about the design of the game and how it makes sense to you. Meaning includes the signifiers (pictures, buttons, relationships, symbols) and how those signifiers are put together. When you think about when it means, consider the relationship between playing the game and the missions or tasks you are to perform.

Tips and Tricks

American Truck Simulator
Get a handle on your actual way points and work through the camera settings so you can really drive the truck. I hope you admire all that amazing scenery.

House Flipper
Patience is the key. This game takes a while and has some interesting mechanics about the work of cleaning, designing, and building.