MAKINGDEMOCRACY FUNHow serious games can foster civic engagement

+WhatWe Do

www.crs.org.pl/en

Who We areThe Centre for Systems Solutions promotes and applies systems

approach in research, education, consulting and solving complex

problems. We are an organization geared towards action. We

combine research with applications in the field of strategy

development, decision making, implementing solutions and

education. Using our knowledge and skills, we cooperate with

local communities, industry, academic centers, state

organizations, as well as NGOs.

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Democracy has become the political version of spinach.

Almost everyone says it’s good, but few people actually want to eat it.

Johs LernerExecutive Director – Participatory Budgeting Project, New York

Boring

It’s boring because it offers a little

of interest.

Painful

It is painful because it often

involves nasty conflicts and bitter

defeats.

Pointless

It is pointless because it rarely

provides any intrinsic pleasure or

concrete outcomes.

Most people feel that there are better ways to spend their time.

+TopReason

Why people do not participate

Lack of time or other prioritiesLack of time can mean many things - usually, saying that

you do not have time is code for

“I’d rather do something else”

*Focus on Citizens: Public Engagement for Better Policy and

Services, 2009

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FUNIn a word, it would be

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FUNis the easiest way to change people's behaviour for the better

Since 1999,

the number of US chi ldren playing digital games

increase over 50 %,

and amount of t ime they spend playing

has nearly tr ipled.

11*Peter Warman, Newzoo Games Market Report: Consumer Spending on Key Platforms and Business Models (Amsterdam, 2010**McGonigal, Reality is broken

CHINA**

active gamers

200million

EUROPE**

active gamers

100million

LATIN AMERICA**

active gamers

23million

US*

people report playing

computer or video

games regularly

- on average 13 hours

per week

183million

INDIA**

active gamers

105million

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Tina Nabatchi,Matt Leighninger

Fun has become more than just a trill

in public participation.

Games give citizens a chance to test

their knowledge, strengthen their

relationships and come up with their

own solutions to public problems.

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Governments and organizations should make democratic participation more fun, to

increase citizen engagement and trust in democracy, and to empower people to

democratically decide more issues that affect their lives.

Johs LernerExecutive Director – Participatory Budgeting Project, New York

14lower tech games and game mechanism are more useful

Most political decisions are still made in

face-to-face meetings, and these are the

processes that need to changing the most.01

Good design makes games fun, and it can

do the same for democracy.03

Technology does not make games fun, and

it will not make democracy fun either. 02

Digital features may complement face-to-

face engagement, but they should not

replace it.04

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