Threat Forge

Using a narrative game to explore future societal challenges

Abstract

The current world is in a state of volatility, uncertainty, and complexity, characterized by the emerging challenges to democratic systems across multiple domains. Preparing to meet these complex challenges requires tools that help to build resilience and adaptability. While serious games and wargames have a long history of being applied to this goal, they often limit the player agency and creativity.

This case study introduces Threat Forge, a narrative co-creation game designed to explore potential futures by integrating game mechanics with techniques used in future studies. It explores how the structure of this game enables players to engage in meaningful discussion of concepts as defined by frameworks like DIME and PMESII even when they have not received direct training in these frameworks.

The results of a formal playtest using the CORGIS survey, as well as thematic analysis of the discussion and observation of play are presented.  The results show that the type of challenges that player experiences within the game are consistent with designing a game to encourage a serious and deep reflection on complex issues.  In addition, they show that the discussion was consistent with frameworks used to discuss conflict. The play-testers felt that the game was a useful method of structuring a discussion on complex issues.

In conclusion, narrative co-creation games offer an important addition to the field of serious games that will need to be subjected to further study and investigation.