Redistricting+Game+Review

Gabriel Kitterman Educational video game review

** The Redistricting Game (instead of Moonbase Alpha) ** I started off exploring the game Moonbase Alpha. It had a lot of features of a modern 3rd person video game and it had a space exploration them (my favorite). However, I realized pretty quickly that I wasn’t going to enjoy Moonbase Alpha. The problem with 1st and 3rd person perspective action style educational games is that they are always going to be compared to commercial entertainment games. These types of educational games wind up feeling like un-fun video games. So, I decided to go back to an educational game that I enjoyed: __The Redistricting Game__

. This game puts the player in the role of a map maker who is asked to redistrict a region in order to achieve certain political objectives. The game consists of five different missions that increase in complexity and give you different challenging. In the first mission you are asked to get the democrats an additional seat (Partisan Gerrymander). In the second mission you are supposed to keep all incumbents in office (Bipartisan Gerrymander). The game also includes two difficulty settings, background information, a glossary, and descriptions of a few types of redistricting reform. The game play and controls are pretty intuitive. You simply click different areas with your mouse to increase or decrease the size of a district. There is a good deal of text information given in this game but it is presented well. The text is given in manageable sizes and it is on demand information.

**__ The kinds of learning involved __**
==== This game gave me firsthand experience with how redistricting can control and manipulate the outcome of an election. Being told directly how redistricting corrupts our democratic system would be a dry and challenging topic. However, with this simple simulation the information is very accessible. While playing this game I learned many new political terms and ideas. I also learned about the history of redistricting and about some proposed reforms for the redistricting problem. ==== The main challenge in this game was tracking multiple types of data at the same time. You have to keep track of the population of each district, the political make up of that population, how the politicians are affected by your changes, and you have to keep an eye on district shape. There was a lot to track but this game made the concepts easy and accessible. **__ How did the game teach you? __**
 * **Active, Critical Learning Principle**: the game let you directly manipulate a simulation of redistricting. I learned through activity and exploration. There was some direct instruction but most learning was active.
 * **Design Principle**: I like having levels in games. It offers a way to challenge yourself and gives you a way to measure your success. I also liked how it has a basic and advanced setting for all levels.
 * **Semiotic Principle**: There are a lot of new political ideas and words in this game. I found the concepts and words easier to understand because I could relate the ideas and words to the simulation experience.
 * **Semiotic Domain Principle**: The game has quite a bit of history and backstory about redistricting. By the end I felt like I did know a little about the domain and the people who are part of it. There isn’t a community here but the text connects you to the field of study.
 * **Psychosocial Moratorium**: I’m not sure if it is really offers a Psychosocial Moratorium but being able to play around with the simulation just to figure out how it all inter-relates definitely has some value.
 * **Practice Principle**: By the end of the game you have done quite a bit of re-districting. Each mission adds a new element to keep in engaging. It gives you a lot of practice.
 * **Ongoing learning Principle**: The game’s level design definitely used this principle. I would learn and master each level, then the game would give me a new challenge to figure out.
 * The submit-for-approval ending of each level rewards players with images and sounds of success
 * The politicians are given personalities. They react to your actions. This is a type of feedback and reward / punishment.

**__Your overall reflections on playing the game__**__.__

I think this is a pretty good educational game. It feels like a puzzle game and it is fun to figure out how to manipulate the system. As you figure it out, it becomes clear how dangerous re-districting is. I think this would be a great game for any class that is covering the material. I also like how the game has a “get involved” attitude. It empowers the players to understand the system and then it teaches about re-districting reform. The only down side to the games is that there were a few dead links. The ‘how does your state do it’ link and the ‘find your rep’ link are both dead. Most of these dead links are happen after you have completed the game but it is a shame that it isn’t complete or isn’t being maintained. I like the idea of education mini-games and I like simulations that allow you the ability to play with complex systems. I would use this game in my classroom. It has educational value and it is enjoyable.