Games to convert non-gamers

September 2, 2008 10:31 AM

What (ideally web-based) game would you suggest to non-game playing business folks to teach them that games are (a) fun and (b) more than just the stereotypical shoot-em-up or puzzle game they vaguely remember from their Atari 2600 or their kid's DS?

I have a book coming out on video games and business. Hopefully, lots of business people who haven't played games before will buy the book and read it. On the book's webiste, I want to point these people to a game or two that will emphasize the main points of the book. Namely, that games are not just for kids, and that the kind of engagement and entertainment that games create can be used for everything from training to recruiting to marketing to innovation.

In an ideal world, I'd make them play Civilization, the Sims, Shadow of the Colossus, and Portal; but, unfortunately, that isn't possible. So what web game or games would you suggest? Downloadable demos might also work.

posted by blahblahblah to technology (19 comments total)

I'd point them at America's Army, even if they don't play it. The Army spent a teeny, tiny fraction of its recruiting budget on a successful recruiting tool.

But you really want to look at the serious games movement. The Wikipedia link lists over a dozen examples, like CyberCIEGE, which teaches network security basics, or Darfur is Dying.

You might also want to look at something like Forza Motorsport. I learned more about real-world cars from that game than anything else.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 10:45 AM on September 2, 2008

Fantastic Contraption is a flash game of simulated physics where you assemble devices to get an object from A to B.

You can save your contraptions for others to see, and when you complete a level, you are then able to see the contraptions of others built for that level - and it's surprising how many people succeed by taking a completely different approach from to the same problem - even on levels which you assumed leaned towards a specific solution. I imagine the ability to view all the different ways people approached and solved a problem that appeared to only have one solution, could be useful for your business training angle.
posted by -harlequin- at 10:51 AM on September 2, 2008

Cool Papa Bell - those are all great examples, some are in the book.

But I am specifically looking for something that people can actually play and have a good chance of "getting it," discovering that games are fun and potentially deep experiences with just a few minutes of play.
posted by blahblahblah at 10:52 AM on September 2, 2008

SimCity Classic is available for free online.

Desktop TD is an incredibly great game with a some simple but surprisingly deep management requirements.

If you're looking for simplicity and fun Boomshine is a great one-click game.
posted by lore at 10:59 AM on September 2, 2008 [1 favorite]

Oh, and Portal is available as a side-scrolling Flash game. Not the instant classic of the real version, but it might fit the bill.
posted by lore at 11:00 AM on September 2, 2008

i'm guessing you'll enjoy the games on persuasive games - the thinking persons games site. Take Fatworld for example that makes a game from the politics of nutrition. My fave is 'Airport Insecurity' "a game about inconvenience and the tradeoffs between security and rights in American airports."

Failing that and feeling like kicking back try some of theses oh so web 2.0 games on cafe.com, which is like facebook meets time killer addictive games.
posted by lapsang at 11:16 AM on September 2, 2008

Perhaps Xplorers at http://games.asobrain.com. It's a port of the Settlers of Catan series of board games.
posted by backwards guitar at 11:49 AM on September 2, 2008 [1 favorite]

You might check out PeaceMaker, which is a nominally educational game about the politics of the middle-east peace process.
posted by Alterscape at 12:03 PM on September 2, 2008

KDice is a brilliant quick-Risk game where the dice themselves are the armies and the maps are randomly generated, but the in-game chat means that alliances are fluid and public and reputation is important, and a sophisticated "flagging" system has evolved that lets players surrender to those above while still fighting off those below. Scores are reset every month, so get in now - it's viciously addictive! (My name is NYCe and I'm a KDice addict.)
posted by nicwolff at 1:05 PM on September 2, 2008

InstantAction.com has several games. Fallen Legion Empires gets very high ratings.

Quake Live is Quake in a browser. Run around, shoot people. Not too much to get.
posted by cCranium at 1:49 PM on September 2, 2008

Peggle
posted by knowles at 2:51 PM on September 2, 2008

cCranium - Quake Live isn't, well, Live yet, right?

lapsang - I found FatWorld extremely difficult to play. Airport Insecurity seems to cost $4. Any suggestions of free, engaging persuasive games?

lore - those are great. Any more suggestions along similar lines?
posted by blahblahblah at 5:52 PM on September 2, 2008

I recommend Play this thing as a resource, since they cover a wide range of games (to more likely find something appealing to them) with short reviews that give you a sense of what the game is like.
posted by birdsquared at 6:28 PM on September 2, 2008

This sounds like you're essentially looking for casual games, where a unique and easy-to-learn game mechanic is typically the focus of gameplay. For a good intro to casual games, I usually point people at Jayisgames.com. (However, it's worth saying that the reviews are *by* gamers, so occasionally they will feature games with difficult or complicated gameplay, or games that reference previous games, and thus appeal more to the hardcore).

Does your book deal with more traditional gaming and not the casual/web gaming market, (probably one of the fastest growing segments -- well, either that or MMOs, would be my guess). More information would help people give more and better suggestions.
posted by fishfucker at 9:42 PM on September 2, 2008

fishfornicator: The book covers casual games, MMOs, virtual worlds, core games - the whole lot. But I don't expect every reader to go out and buy each game we mention. Instead, I want to introduce people to the basic feel of a few game types in an engaging way.

That probably means casual games (or small serious game projects), but I'd like suggestions as to which. Boomshine is an addicting mechanic. September 12 is a good example of a game with a persuasive impact that you can understand instantly. They aren't deep, but they have an instant recognition associated with them. That is what I am aiming for.
posted by blahblahblah at 10:03 PM on September 2, 2008

We created Anti-Phishing Phil as a fun and effective way to teach people how to spot online scams and how to protect themselves. It's not quite as polished as many of the other games above, but our studies show it is very effective. Several businesses have also expressed interest in using the game in their training.

(Disclosure: we've formed a startup to commercialize this and other anti-phishing work we have been doing in our research group)
posted by jasonhong at 5:47 AM on September 3, 2008

blahblahblah:

Yeah, I realized a few minutes after leaving the house that you were probably looking for editorial help in sifting through the huge mass of casual games out there (and that pointing to jayisgames probably wasn't useful). Boomshine is definitely a great choice; the gameplay lends itself well to casual and older gamers (although it is afflicted with low replay value, since you can't really ever 'win').

I've been trying to think of others in the few days since I've posted and can't come up with any. Most of the other fun casual games I've played have problems with being suitable: they're either stripped down copies of 'big' games and game concepts (lots of turn based strategy), or are complicated enough (or have intros that run on waaaaay too long) that it would be difficult for someone who's not a gamer to see the fun right away. Or are a bit of an in-joke (see elephant rave, burn the rope).

I'll keep thinking though ... there's got to be something else that is perfect.
posted by fishfucker at 7:53 AM on September 4, 2008

I should mention i've been a big fan of indestructo tank but I'm not sure it quite fits the target you're looking for.
posted by fishfucker at 7:56 AM on September 4, 2008

Oh .. and the other game I was thinking about that is suitable is line rider -- where you have the bonus of a lot of interesting things about casual games: emergent behavior, physics, platform game deal.
posted by fishfucker at 8:00 AM on September 4, 2008