Democracy 3 is a game that snuck up on me! I was happy and minding my own business when an article came across my desk about a new App with an in “Depth Government Simulation.” I scoffed a bit because who would be able to explain the nuances of government in a single Application. I downloaded the game, and there it sat while I was waiting to review a couple of other simulations. During this past summer, I was cleaning off my iPad and stumbled across the app again, in my queue to delete. It did not seem fair that I delete the App without even launching it, so I took a few minutes to fire the game up. An hour later, I but the game down unable to think straight.
At its core, Democracy 3 is a government simulation game. You take on the role of the newly elected ruler of a country of your choice. Each turn in the game is the span of three months of your reign. During that time, you earn and spend political capital, try to balance the budget, and make changes to further your society. Where the app excels is in its description of the interconnectedness of policies. I was immediately tasked with wanting to reduce the crime rate in my country. I banned drugs, criminalized prostitution, and provided additional support to the legal system – which all made logical sense. After six months, my GDP was down, my parents were upset, and crime had drastically increased.
In an education context, I see this game as a very powerful way to model government. Students have the ability to manage policies and then see the downstream effects of those policies. In the skilled hands of a seasoned educator, this will be a wonderful way to engage students in Government.
The Video Review
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Summary
Democracy 3 is a mind blowing game about changing the political face of a government. The interface is engaging, and complimented by a wonderful tutorial program. The game itself is engaging by the complexity of gameplay and unknown effects of each change. As a game, I would highly recommend Democracy 3, but as an Education Simulation, Democracy 3 is priceless. In the game, you effect policy and make change. Many students wish they had the ability to make that kind of change in the world around them. I look at Democracy 3 as a gateway to political action for students. It is empowering to see how a single policy change can make such drastic changes to the government. Students can learn that the smallest initiative, started by a single person, can change the entire political landscape. That lesson is priceless.