New Shores

A simulation for climate and democracy

New Shores

A simulation for climate and democracy

What is the New Shores?

New Shores – a Game for Democracy is a multiplayer internet game that sends players to a vibrant, green island. With wild forests and rich coal deposits, it seems a perfect place to lead a long, peaceful life. However, the illusion gets soon dispelled.

Initially equipped with nothing more than a basic hut and a couple of action points, the players are soon thrust into a harsh reality of earning money, protecting their households and developing public infrastructure. On their way, they discover that all these actions are interlinked; while exploiting the island’s natural resources may quickly improve their living conditions, it may also disturb the island’s ecological balance and lead to natural disasters.

What is the New Shores?

How will the players act? Will they try to multiply their personal wealth or rather work for the public good? Will they exploit the coal deposits and gamble with the climate change? Or maybe they will play it “green”?

While these questions have to remain open, one thing is sure: Climate and democracy shouldn’t be taken for granted.

The game has been developed within the project Nauru Game for Active Citizenship of Youth funded from the European Union as part of the Erasmus+ Programme. It is available in 4 languages: English, Polish, Slovak and Hungarian.

While these questions have to remain open, one thing is sure: Climate and democracy shouldn’t be taken for granted.

The game is simple and intuitive – it does not require any advanced computer skills. Although it is an internet game, it offers a social experience. It entails negotiation and cooperation and often triggers empathy and charitable attitudes in players.

Benefits

Learn and explore practices that promote sustainability.

Discover correlation between greenhouse gases and climate change.

Get a better understanding of the climate change mechanics.

Practice and gain skills for effective communication and collaboration.

Develop strategic and leadership skills.

Learn how to set and align goals, negotiate conditions and coordinate actions.

What participants say

“The “New Shores” game is a challenging collaborative experience! The students can learn to coordinate their activities in a fast pacing, neatly designed yet simple enough game and on the same time raise conservation awareness and promote social participation. Game based education at its best!”

Jason Papathanasiou, Associate Professor, Department of Business Administration, University of Macedonia, Greece

“The “New Shores” was an important educational experience that highlights the interplay between social, environmental and economic dimensions of sustainability and how personal interest and well-being can undermine collective decisions and strategies.”

Mrs Vasiliki Kioupi, PhD researcher at the Centre for Environmental Policy of Imperial College London.