FAQ
Tell me about the game.
Melting Point is a game about global warming.
My goal is to integrate the best science I can find along with political and economic models, to put you into the role of a policymaker. Your goal as a player is to establish policies about energy use that cope with global warming while minimizing the economic impact of your decisions.
A policymaker from where?
That’s your choice. You can pick any country — but you must realize that different countries have different amounts of influence.
How do I make those decisions?
You have a certain amount of political capital to spend, which replenishes at a rate corresponding to the size, influence, and economic status of your home country.
All the policies you establish will have a certain cost in political capital. It will be cheaper to set policy within in your own country than in other countries, and it will be cheaper to influence allies than to influence friends, and it will be cheaper to ask others to set certain policies if you’ve already set similar ones yourself.
You’ll also have to deal with various environmental and political crises as they arise.
It sounds complicated.
Global warming is a complex problem. But this game is designed to make it easy and interesting. You should be able to play a full game in an hour or so (maybe a bit longer the first time you play).
What do I get out of it?
You’ll learn a lot about energy — where it comes from, what kinds of energy we use, and which kinds have the most influence on global warming. You’ll learn about global warming and how it happens, and the kinds of things we can do to minimize it. And of course, it’s a game…so it’ll actually be fun to play.
Why should I care?
Why do you pay attention to the news? Because you care about your place in the world. The news, however, doesn’t give you the ability to try out different ideas to see which ones might work. Don’t like nuclear power? Don’t use it! Think you can save the planet and still drive your SUV? See if you can make it work. The decisions are in your hands.
After you’ve played Melting Point, you’ll understand what we’re up against. You’ll be a smarter citizen, and a better voter.
So when can I play it?
As soon as possible, but not until it’s done. Watch this space. Subscribe to a blog feed. There’ll be a mailing list soon.