Open sessions > S.12 – Gaming as a Mediation Tool

Authors can submit papers directly on PESCRL website by April 9 (section: 'Submit a communication'). Submission requires a title, a 2,000 signs abstract, 5 keywords as well as one contact information and the institutional attachment of all authors. Abstracts and presentations should be made in English. The abstracts will be fully refereed by the program committee and the accepted ones will notified by April 24. Some sessions might require full papers before PESCRL event in September.

S.12 – Gaming as a mediation tool

Chair – Sylvie Lardon, Yves Michelin et Hélène Blasquiet, INRA and VetAgroSup

Abstract: Gaming is more and more used as a mediation tool, in order to help local communities or stakeholders to express their own point of view of a local place, its landscapes, and its products or to think about and to elaborate new policies, or for managing common resources.

Many experiences still exist using different types of games (play role, board game, participatory drawing…) combined or not with simulators, based on traditional components (board, cards, dice) or digital ones.

Geography has been interested in gaming for a long time. The initial aim was educational, but this discipline can also help game designers better incorporate spatial and time dimensions into their games. Moreover, it can be useful for cross scaling and for combining natural and social aspects. 

This session has 3 main goals:

• To take stock of the interests and limits of gaming for better taking into account landscape quality, health or local food product in local projects or policies
• To exchange on methods and techniques for conceiving and designing games
• To actually discover and experiment with different games

We have planned to combine theoretical and case study presentations, interactive demonstrations of games, and a gaming session where everyone will have the opportunity to experiment different games during a speed playing session. Two types of presentations are expected:

•  A short presentation of a game, (aims, targeted audience, material, short description of the rules, main results, interests and limits)
• A presentation with a demo (1 hour) during a dedicated time where participants will practice as gamers and will evaluate at least 2 games. A common grid will be proposed in order to produce a comparative analysis at the end of the session.

After the conference, if we have enough material, we hope to publish a book (in English) or to propose a special issue in an international journal.