Prototyping a Better World

Shaping a future that relies on collaboration over competition

TECHNOLOGY

PEOPLE

3 MINS READ

DATE

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

AUTHOR

Ula Przybylska

A visual anthropologist and XR artist, Ula works with immersive environments and experimental narrative styles. Inspired by utopias, feminism and collectivism, she aims to document game-like experiences.

In European and American education, individualism is often seen as a symbol of freedom, contrasting with dependence on community. This mindset discourages community practices and overlooks the benefits of certain dependencies. Paulo Freire's principles advocate for unity and compassion to challenge oppressive structures. Forming communities of mutual reliance also provides freedoms, which are not achievable on an individual scale.

WoU aims to challenge established knowledge systems, fostering connections without competition or hierarchies.

However, applying these ideas within games can be challenging due to the entertainment-driven approach. "World of Us" researchers are exploring collaborative game mechanics that promote collectivism. Game mechanics serve as the elemental constructs of interactive experiences, which shape the rules, frameworks, and ever-evolving engagements that influence how players interact with a game. As they are the key factor to shaping gaming experiences, these mechanisms can also be viewed as prototypes for constructing improved societies and fostering meaningful human connections.

Looking deeper, what game mechanics can actually help children explore alternative social structures to capitalist individualism?

Examples of game mechanics fostering collaboration:

Complementarity between characters

Characters have different abilities so players need to collaborate in order to complete their goals. Such gameplay underscores the notion that each person's uniqueness is vital and valued.

Shared goals

This straightforward design pattern is intended to compel a group of players to share a common, non-exclusive objective that can only be achieved collectively.

Collaborative decision-making

To progress, unanimous agreement among all players is required to choose a common course of action, focusing on the collective well-being over individual interests.

Common resources

Collecting own resources to be able to win against other players promotes competition, lack of collaboration and the economy of the strongest. We would like to see more game mechanics focused on taking care of common resources and using them in the best interest...