Background
PowerPlay is a multi-player, highly interactive role-playing game that can be used to simulate the evolving, changing market for energy efficiency in the U.S. PowerPlay was developed jointly by University of Maryland School of Public Policy, U.S. EPA and International Energy Agency. It was rolled out on August 26, 2004 in Pacific Grove, California as part of the ACEEE’s Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings. More than 50 energy efficiency professionals participated in the first run of the game.
Purpose
- Gain a better understanding of the dynamics in markets for energy efficiency
- Provide experimental basis for energy demand modeling
- Have fun!
Motivation
Games are becoming increasingly popular tools to explore with decision makers the consequences of their decisions in situations where information flow among "players" is limited and environmental conditions cannot be known with certainty. There is a wide range of such games. At one extreme are game-theoretic models that attempt to identify optimal strategies for two or more players in often static or comparative static settings. At the other end of the range are computer-based simulation games (such as SimCity) that concentrate on the evolution of systems in which typically a single player interferes in a system's dynamics through various choice variables. While game-theoretic models assume a small number of actors and choice variables, are frequently highly context-specific and require advanced mathematical skills for their solution, computer-based simulations often lack strong theoretical ties, require considerable time to be played, and often are not transparent enough to enable players to (ex post) clearly evaluate the success of alternative strategies within the context of myriad variables.
About the Game
PowerPlay is a learning tool that draws on theory and allows multiple players to interact with each other so that they may learn about the potential consequences of their choices and actions. It incorporates basic economic and engineering concepts to frame choice options for players, utilizes a dynamic computer model to facilitate the game, draws into the game experts and decision makers, and reports back to those players and the scientific and decision making communities at large the insights generated by the game.
You can refer to the documents listed below to learn more:
- introduction for players
(August 2004 |
434 KB) - quick summary
of first game (August 2004 | link to the
web site)
Contact
For further information, contact Matthias Ruth at the University of Maryland.