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  • 2007 Serious Games Summit GDC: Jane McGonigal On ilovebees, ARGs This latest Serious Games Source feature covers a keynote by alternate reality game creator Jane McGonigal presented during the recent 2007 Serious Games Summit, during which she stated “I design games from the future,” and offered insight into the creation of Halo 2 ARG ilovebees.
  • Serious Game Engine Shootout In the march up to the Serious Games Shootout panel to take place in March during the Serious Games Summit in San Francisco, writer Richard Carey presents a comparative analysis of several prominent engines currently used for developing serious games, as well as quotes from the companies behind the technologies.
  • Playing with Fire: Enemy Dolls In this latest Playing with Fire feature, Powerful Robot Games' Gonzalo Frasca offers his unique insight into the perception of conflict in games, as well as in other media, and notes how looking at events through the eyes of the opposition could lead to better understanding.
USC Game Focuses On Redistricting Abuse[06.08.07]

University of Southern California researchers, along with members of Congress and other organizations aimed at political reform have announced The Redistricting Game, a free online serious game that aims to illustrate “how redistricting works, how it is abused, and how it adversely affects our democracy.”

According to the USC developers, the game provides hands-on understanding of the real redistricting process, including drawing district maps and interacting with party bosses, congresspeople, citizen groups and courts.

The Redistricting Game will debut as part of a presentation on redistricting at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, June 13 at 10:00 am, at which time Congressman John Tanner and other members of Congress, along with various reform leaders will welcome the USC design team, headed by USC School of Cinematic Arts' professor Chris Swain.

In the game, players “directly experience how crafty manipulation of lines can yield skewed victories for either party -- effectively allowing politicians to choose their voters instead of voters choosing their politicians,” according to the USC development team.

The Redistricting Game will also detail a variety of reform measures, including a playable version of Rep. Tanner's "Fairness and Independence in Redistricting Act" (H.R. 543). Other features include the ability for players to have conversations with other players online, and write their congressperson directly from the game.

By Jason Dobson
June 8, 2007 10:42:00 AM PT