Rushing headlong into the past: the Blackwood simulation

摘要

The Blackwood Project is a simulation of a mythical 19th Century Western river town. Participants who join the simulation will accept or be assigned a role in the simulation that is primarily economic in nature. In Blackwood, gameplay is influenced by historical events and players are assigned roles designed to promote collaboration and interaction. Players assume roles in the simulation, such as a blacksmith, but are not expected to learn blacksmithing. Employee software agents actually do the day-to-day chores. The players are "only" expected to manage the retailing and business elements of the game. Continuing the evolution and making improvements to the Blackwood Project are students in various classes taught at North Dakota State University. These students assume roles in a simulated consulting team in order to accomplish semester-length goals improving one or more aspects of Blackwood.