In this five-day training, you will learn how to develop and strategically apply games to address complex spatial and societal challenges. Drawing on theory and latest technologies such as Urban AI, digital participation tools, and inspiring real-life examples, you will develop your skills step by step. Through game design, you will explore how to support data-driven decision-making. Topics covered include affordable housing, climate adaptation and retrofitting, citizen input in ‘omgevingsvisie’ processes, economic development and ecological balance, migration and social transformation, inner-city densification, energy transition, and network congestion. You will learn which types of games, datasets, and algorithms are most suitable for various challenges, and how to synthesize the outcomes of game sessions to support decision-making processes.

TRAINING

You work with unique knowledge and experience developed by Play the City network on City Gaming since 2010. You learn to relate and integrate the latest innovations to your work field such as Urban AI, Digital Twins and other digital tools that support data-driven, innovative and collaborative solutions. In each training session renowned experts in the field of area development, digital transition and citizen engagement join sessions to share valuable experiences. Together with your fellow attendants, you exchange professional experiences and practical examples, and you develop skills for designing serious games. You get access to the unique knowledge developed by Games for Cities such as existing gaming methods, their applicability for collaborative processes and concrete results. You conclude the training with the development of a game [supported by experienced experts], game testing with participants and a personal conversation. You will receive a certificate upon completion.

TARGET AUDIENCE

The Games for Cities program is suitable for professionals who are involved in spatial and social issues where participation plays an increasingly important role. These include policy advisors, strategists, urban planners, environmental managers, architects, researchers, communication advisors for government, utility companies, social domain experts, urban developers, and more.

PLAY THE CITY NETWORK

The Play the City team and its knowledge network form the intellectual foundation of the Games for Cities training. Since 2010, the team has developed a unique serious gaming methodology that has been implemented in official decision-making processes. The course is led by Dr. Ekim Tan, author of Play the City: Games Informing the Urban Development, and architect Shreya Kembhavi. The program features contributions from leading experts in urban development, including Dr. Roni Bulent Ozel (LucidMinds AI), Mark Bouman (Urban Reality), Carissa Champlin (University of Twente), and Faezeh Mohammadi (Pakhuis de Zwijger).

DATES & COSTS

Training sessions are held weekly between 25th of September and 30th of October with the final public playtesting event at Pakhuis de Zwijger in Amsterdam. Drinks and snacks are included. Training groups require a minimum of 8 participants. Would you prefer a customized group training tailored to your organization’s needs? Contact us at training@playthecity.eu

Training fee: PhD student €1200,- | Senior Researcher €2400,- | Professional €3.600,-

GAMES FOR CITIES TRAINING PROGRAM

Day 1 – Theoretical basis for city gaming, future of city gaming, digital transition and good practices

Guest expert: Dr. Roni Bulent Ozel (LucidMinds AI)

13:00–16:00 followed by drinks and snacks

Self-organization theory, serious games and spatial tasksNew Theory of Urban Design Christopher Alexander Gaming and Participatory Processes since Buckminster Fuller's 1960s World (Peace) Game. Digital participation and decision making tools: digital twins How does city gaming work? What are best practices?  Global examples such as Cityscape by MIT Media Lab, Block by Block by Mojang, Microsoft, and UN-Habitat

Day 2 – Deep dive into Play the City gaming practice

Guest expert Mark Bouwman from Urban Reality

13:00–16:00 followed by drinks and snacks

What is the Play the City method and how does it work exactly? Evolution of the method from a tabletop physical game to Network of Games* Digital, physical and hybrid: which game interfaces are relevant for which challenges and target groups Applicability and concrete results How to document the outcomes of a game meeting? Brainstorming workshop for participants to come up with the challenges they want to address using serious gaming. Club similar themes and form groups of people

Day 3 – Start building own city game

Guest expert: Carissa Champlin (University of Twente)

13:00–16:00 followed by drinks and snacks

Introduce and show the different game components - PTC Participants work on building a city game concept e.g: Energy transitions, affordable housing game, climate game, area development game, Small group presentations, Feedback from PTC and discussions

Day 4 – Prototyping and game development

Guest expert Txell Blanco (University of Wageningen and art collective Outsiders)

13:00–16:00 followed by drinks and snacks

Participants working on finalizing their chosen game - Data sets, game components, detailing the game board, networking and drinks Guest speakers with serious game]

Day 5 – Public presentation and testing

18:00 onwards - public event + drinks and snacks

Invite professional network, friends and families of participants, architectural offices, urban planners, policy makers, waternet, energy providers etc. Guest speakers each present a case developed using City Gaming (2-3 speakers, 15min each) Test games with the guests, teams and PTC Team, Concluding speech and PTC info by Dr. Ekim Tan, Networking, drinks and distribution of certificates to the participants