Systems Thinking
Machinated Maneuver
Work in Progress
Foreword
The aim of a systems design project is to develop a structured and effective solution to address a specific problem within an area or system. Since these problems address a dysfunctionality within a system of inter-linkages, they are wicked in nature and hard to resolve. Systems design involves the creation of a detailed report that outlines the understanding of the subject, its components, and functionality of the proposed change, keeping different stakeholders requirements and needs in mind.
During this ten week project, we aimed to unravel the issue of Manipulation in everyday life. The title Machinated Maneuver hints at the carefully schemed journey the process of manipulation is.
We are still working on compiling our project, but in the meantime, we would love to share one of our outcomes with you.
The project was done under the guidance of Praveen Nahar and Sahil Thappa.
The process
Machinated Maneuver
Manipulation is all around us in varying forms and degrees. Throughout the course of our lives, the world manipulates us, and we manipulate the world. A phenomenon as old as the beginning of the human civilization, we have been manipulating to gain power, control and resources in order to survive. In the recent years, the abstract notion of manipulation has become a currency too. Technologies like deep fake and AI, coupled with social media algorithms, have made us highly susceptible to control. The goal is to design a system that is resilient towards, manipulative behavior and pattern. This game is one of the solutions proposed by us for long lasting change.
The Labyrinth
Game design
Systems Thinking
Outcome 1
Context
Building resilience first requires a holistic understanding of the conflict, and the earlier the seeds of this understanding are planted the better. In order to make children aware and empathetic towards acts and the victims of manipulation, the idea of “the Labyrinth” came into being. An entertaining gameplay that is not only easy to follow but also teaches a lesson without preaching.
The story
Inspired from the Greek tale of The Labyrinth, this game lets you play as oe of the four characters belonging to different walks of life. The aim is to make your way out of the labyrinth the fastest. But various manipulative tactics try their best to slow you down. Would you give in to the machinations or immerge a victor?
how to play
2-4 players can play the game at a time.
Choose your “Personal Cards” to know about the characters.
Roll the dice to take your chance and start moving the pawns on the marked route.
Rules
There are common card and individual card markings on the path, if your pawn lands on any of the above marks you have to read out your chosen individual card or common card.
For Individual cards, you answer the given question. For every correct answer you get a token. Answer can be verified from the answer key.
For Common cards, the card you pick gets read out loud by the player on your right. You take steps forward or backward based on your card statement. You can avoid going backward by using your rewarded tokens and stay in place instead. That token gets returned to the game box.
A lot is yet to be unveiled. The labyrinth is one of the three outcomes produced by our team for our systems design project. We hope to share the same with you soon.
To be continued....
