Why a Youth Organisation Is Important
5 February 2020
Benefits of a World Simulator Game
19 February 2020
How a World Simulator Game Benefits Non-Profit Organisations
Games are not only reserved for the tech-savvy young ones who devote most of their time in front of their gaming rig. Even in the time before computers and consoles were invented, playing games has served an integral part in shaping up the youth. It is almost a universal means of bringing people together towards a common goal – to win.
Nowadays, games are introduced to children not merely for the triumphant victory they get to savor at the end of it, but some games are especially designed to teach lessons and insights. This innovative game play depends on metaphors to get a point across. Some of them even use the fundamentals of role-playing that really engages each and every participant. Because of the nature of this game, a lot of non-profit organisations utilise games to integrate real world values and morals into the mindset of the participants.
One type of game that has been gaining momentum in the world of non-profit organisations is called World Game. This popular non-profit organisation game mimics real-life situations to gauge how well each participant can handle them. The mechanics of this game sounds pretty straightforward, too!
What is a World Simulation Game?
In a world simulation game, participants assume the role of a world leader and like all world leaders, they are tasked with a mission. The mission sounds simple enough: to engage in diplomatic discourse with other world leaders to solve a global problem. The game, however, gets more complicated as it progresses so every participant has to keep their wits intact throughout.
There are many reasons why many non-profit organisations have incorporated this game into their curriculum. This article enumerates the benefits of world simulation games and why you should give it a try:
Learning is Risk Free
There is an old adage that goes “We sometimes learn things the hard way.” This phrase and copious others led us to believe that to be able to learn, we must struggle first. We have seen this in movies where it takes the protagonist a series of bad decisions to finally learn that he or she has made a mistake. This does not have to be the case all the time.
With world simulation non-profit organisation games, learning is risk free. It does not require participants to climb mountains, crawl through mud, or survive elaborate obstacle courses to get a point across. Lessons are handed out as they happen and in a more obvious manner. The only things this game requires are words and brave, courageous hearts.
Participants Learn to Manage Uncertainty
Games, traditionally, glorify the winners and shame the ones that failed. World simulation games are different in that aspect since instead of focusing on winning, it focuses on managing uncertainty and accepting that there are things that are simply out of one’s control.
It also highlights how failures should not be feared of. It reminds the participants that the greatest insights can be gained through failure and thus, should not be frustrated when it happens to them. Handling uncertainty and failures can be too much for most children but presenting them in this manner could equip them with better, healthier coping mechanisms when it does happen in real life.
Takes Away the Competitive Aspect of Games
You must be seeing a pattern by now on how world simulation games are in a different league from the typical games that you grew up playing as a child. It breaks down its traditional rules of gaming and cuts out the unhealthy aspects of it. One unhealthy aspect of typical games is that it sometimes harbours extreme competitiveness from its players.
A world simulation game is anchored on cooperation and collaboration rather than scheming and bringing other people down. Through proper communication techniques, they can hear each other out and take necessary actions to solve a common problem. The participants have a common goal and it allows the participants to see just how wonderful the results could be when people work together instead of tearing each other apart.
Opens Opportunities to Apply Theories
These games are also designed to check if the participants are applying the theories or lessons that were taught prior to the game. Participants, for example, would be taught effective communication techniques or team strategies. Without an opportunity to apply these learnings and see if they really work, then all those teachings would only look good on paper.
By incorporating world simulation games into your lessons, there is an opening for the participants to discover which works best in a short period of time. Additionally, the lessons are retained better and corrections are implemented as soon as errors are detected.
Need Assistance?
Inspired by Buckminster Fuller’s World Game, We R One World is an organisation that helps other organisations create a new reality – one that focuses on the goodness of the human spirit and the intrinsic value that we all have as humans. We hope that we can cascade this to the rest of the world through collaborative projects, among others.
We hold a one-day live action role play world simulation game that aims to gather teams and other visionaries like us to take on a mission: tackle global problems together. If you are interested in working with our team, call us at +61 414 303 511. You may also reach us through our website’s enquiry form.
We look forward to working with visionaries like you!
