Civic Gaming Project

Bart Simon, David I. Waddington

The results of a recent Pew Foundation survey have shown that there is a correlation between playing video games that simulate civic and political processes (e.g. the SimCity and Civilization series) and actual participation in civic and political life. Although this finding highlights the possibility that video games could have an significant impact on citizens’ levels of knowledge and interest about civic life, the fact remains that this possible connection needs to be investigated more closely. The studies that are grouped under the umbrella of the civic games project investigate the civic potential of video games from a variety of angles.

Credits

Vivek Venkatesh, Ann-Louise Davidson, Tieja Thomas, Kris Alexander, Tim Gallant, Anne Newman