- LCST 2230 A (CRN 7864) Simulation and Cybernetics - T/R 11:55-1:35
- LCST 2230 B (CRN 7853) Simulation and Cybernetics - T/R 1:50-3:30
Listed description:
[Tracks C, M] This course will examine the usage of models, simulations, and games as ways of exploring, understanding, and critiquing various systems - ecological, social, economic, and/or political. Students will dissect and discuss classic models such as Schelling's Model of Segregation and Sugarscape, in addition to narrative applications, such as Vertu and Dwarf Fortress. Throughout the course students will learn various techniques for developing these models and will collectively design and implement a series of simple interactive simulations on topics of their choosing, such as voting, social media, and opinion flow and influence dynamics. Students should come with some prior programming experience, ideally with Python. An introductory Python course is offered in parallel for students without prior programming experience. Important note: Students must bring their own laptops to class.
- a new way of looking at the world, which hopefully leads to many new ways of looking at the world
- skills in expressing systems in a variety of ways: diagrams, code, etc
- methods for thinking through complex problems, identifying where to intervene in complicated issues
You'll be given class time to work on projects -- this is a good opportunity to ask questions, get feedback, etc. But it's unlikely that this in-class time alone will be enough to finish the projects.
I'm available for office hours as needed. Please email me or let me know in class in advance and we can set up a time.
Your grade will be computed as follows:
- 20% Attendance/Participation
- 60% Assignments
- 20% Final project
| Date | Topic | Assignment Due |
|---|---|---|
| Tues, January 23 | What is cybernetics? | |
| Thurs, January 25 | Systems thinking and mapping | Read: Leverage Points, Xenofeminism Manifesto |
| Tues, January 30 | Systems as models, as games | Assignment #1 due, Read: How to Simulate the Universe in 134 Easy Steps, Les Simerables, |
| Thurs, February 1 | Development environment setup | Bring a laptop |
| Tues, February 6 | Intro to HTML and CSS | |
| Thurs, February 8 | (no class) | |
| Tues, February 13 | Game design introduction | Assignment #2 due, Read: Criteria for Strategy Game Design |
| Thurs, February 15 | Intro to game dev: Basic graphics, text, and style | |
| Tues, February 20 | Project time | |
| Thurs, February 22 | Intro to game dev: Basic interactivity and state | Assignment #3 due |
| Tues, February 27 | Intro to game dev: Basic simulation models | |
| Thurs, March 1 | Project time | |
| Tues, March 6 | Project time | |
| Thurs, March 8 | Project time | |
| Tues, March 13 | Project time | |
| Thurs, March 15 | Game day | Assignment #4 due |
| Tues, March 20 | [SPRING BREAK] | |
| Thurs, March 22 | [SPRING BREAK] | |
| Tues, March 27 | How it's made: Logistics, supply chains, production | Read: The Cybersyn Revolution, Do Containers Dream of Electric People?, Postcapitalist Ecology: A Comment on Inventing the Future |
| Thurs, March 29 | Distributed control: Platforms, decentralization, voting | Read: No Monoliths, The Dream of the Internet, Reversing the Lies of the Sharing Economy |
| Tues, April 3 | System map discussion, Management sim dev: Basic setup | Assignment #5 due |
| Thurs, April 5 | Management sim dev: State, win conditions, classes/objects | |
| Tues, April 10 | Management sim dev: Interaction | |
| Thurs, April 12 | Management sim dev: Timers, randomness | |
| Tues, April 17 | Management sim dev | |
| Thurs, April 19 | Project time | |
| Tues, April 24 | Project time | |
| Thurs, April 26 | Project time | |
| Tues, May 1 | Project time | |
| Thurs, May 3 | Project time | |
| Tues, May 8 | Project time | |
| Thurs, May 10 | Final presentations | Final presentations due |
Choose a system that is interesting or relevant to you. Map it out as a system map in as much detail as you can, using a combination of a causal loop diagram and a stock and flow diagram.
Some things to consider: Who are the individuals, organizations, groups, etc involved? What parts of the system do the affect, and what parts of the system affect them? What technologies or natural phenomena are involved, if any? What are important indications of the system's well-being?
Identify leverage points in the system. Try to get some that are cultural/social, some that are policy/political, some that are technological.
Play The Founder and one of the following games and write your thoughts in Canvas. Some things to consider: Was the game challenging and/or engaging? Did the game clearly communicate its ideas and perspective? What were your main takeaways?
Also, try to map out the system underlying the game as well as you can.
You may also play a game not on this list, so long as it is relevant/similar to the ones listed here and you explain why you chose that game.
- Universal Paperclips
- Advanced Bitcoin Simulator
- Nova Alea
- The Republia Times
- McDonald's Video Game
- Post/Capitalism
- Bad News
- If you feel like paying:
Using the graphics and text techniques we learned, re-create an image you like. It should be your interpretation of that image rather than an exact duplicate.
Create a simple game using the interactivity and game state techniques we learned, based off of one of the suggested games in class.
Be prepared to discuss why you made the game you did and explain the decisions that went into it.
Your game should be available online.
Form groups of 3 and create a system map related to one of the topics we discussed in class. You'll use this system map as the basis for your game for your final assignment. For example, you could be a warehouse manager trying to keep your job and hit certain targets.
Develop a game based on your system map from assignment #5.
Be prepared to discuss why you made the game you did and explain the decisions that went into it.