The Gaming of Policy and the Politics of Gaming

This article examines the foundations of gaming and related concepts, such as policy exercises and serious gaming, in a public policy making context. Examining the relevant publications in Simulation & Gaming since 1969, the author looks back at the development of gaming simulation for purposes such as public policy analysis and planning, and reviews the underlying theories and empirical evidence. The author highlights the recognition that the success of gaming for policy making derives largely from the unique power of that gaming to capture and integrate both the technical-physical and the social-political complexities of policy problems

1. In a recent contribution to the 40th anniversary symposium issue, Thorngate and Tavakoli (2009, p. 2) also observed that “we know of no recent and comprehensive review of how simulations are used for policy decision-making or evaluation of how much simulations improve the decisions made.” Although they are not specific about the role of gaming, they argue that the influence of simulation operates through rhetoric, including by adapting our tools (simulations) to our audience (policy makers).

We who indulge in policy relevant simulations are inclined to believe that they are powerful tools for improving policy choices. It is important to admit, however, that most policy makers do not share our indulgence and remain indifferent to the beauty of our inclination. (Thorngate & Tavakoli, 2009, p. 13)

2. Although there are many parallels and similarities, I will leave out all discussions on gaming for business policy making, gaming for business strategy, business management, and organizational change (see also Geurts et al., 2007). I will focus solely on the use of gaming in a context of public policy making.

3. The early 1970s can definitely be labeled a heyday period; the eighties mainly one of consolidation. With the notion of serious gaming buzzing around at the time of writing, we seem to be going through another heyday period. I will come back to serious gaming, military and nonmilitary, further on.

4. Other names are Ed Paxson, Thomas Schelling, Carl Builder, Bob Levine, Peter Rydell, Bruce Goeller, Bill Schwabe, Milt Weiner, Amnon Rapoport, James Kahan, and Warren Walker.

5. Many of the reports, going back to 1959, can still be downloaded from the RAND Website (http://www.rand.org)

6. The alternative notion “seminar gaming” seems to refer to Lasswell’s decision seminar; one of the first proposals to use a deliberate approach to use interaction and negotiation between a group of interdisciplinary scientists and policy makers for policy making, especially over a longer period of time (see also Brewer, 1972).

7. Since then, there have been numerous experiments worldwide showing a great variety of game-types and concepts: urban board games, role-playing games, computer-based simulation-games and, more recently, digital games (with SIMCITY as the most famous one), serious games and virtual (game) worlds for urban planning.

8. And even more critical about Jay Forrester’s (recently introduced) urban dynamics for that matter. In general Forrester’s approach of modeling and Meadows et al. Limits to Growth models received many critical reviews. See also the discussion on Forrester SD in deLeon (1975).

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9. Maxis’ SIMCITY was first released in 1989. For more information see the various Web sites and Wikis, for example, http://www.acmi.net.au/games_simcity.htm.

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10. I have found no evidence that his six different types of scenario-based gaming have actually been used in the way Ferenc L. Toth presented them, or that his models have been validated.

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11. The games were cofinanced by several Dutch ministries, described as Decision Support Systems and played and demonstrated at the 2nd World Water Forum and the 2nd International Nitrogen Conference, respectively.

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12. In another publication I argued that the required methods and approaches should therefore have a number of characteristics (see Mayer et al., 2006)

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a. Integrative: They should consider different aspects and levels of policy making in a holistic and systemic way.

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b. Dynamic: They should be able to show the “performance” of various alternatives in relation to the preferences and “behavior” of stakeholders.

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c. Interactive: They should be able to support the negotiation process between stakeholders.

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d. Transparent: They should produce results that are clear and understandable to all stakeholders (they should not be a “black box”).

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e. Flexible and reusable: They should be usable for, or adaptable to, a range of (similar) situations.

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f. Fast and easy to use: The required time to apply them should be relatively short, and non-experts, for example residents and politicians, should be able to use them.

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g. Communicative and educational: They should be able to convey meaning and insight to stakeholders about problem structure, alternatives and different perspectives.

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h. Authoritative: They should meet analytical standards of validity and political standards (e.g., they should safeguard core values and timeliness) in order to increase the likelihood that the outcomes are actually used.

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13. The figures suggest a modeling of complexity through system dynamics. However, it can be done in many ways, for instance through agent-based modeling or cellular automata (see also Portugali, 2009).

Game development is the process of creating video games, encompassing all the stages from initial concept to the final product. It's a multidisciplinary field that requires collaboration among various professionals. Here's a brief note on game development:

**Conceptualization**:

The game development process begins with the conceptualization phase. Developers brainstorm ideas, create game concepts, and outline the game's story, mechanics, and overall vision. This stage involves creativity and often results in a game design document that serves as a blueprint for development.

**Design**:

Designers work on the game's mechanics, levels, characters, and overall user experience. This phase includes level design, character design, user interface design, and gameplay mechanics design. Balancing the gameplay to make it engaging and enjoyable is a crucial aspect of game design.

**Programming**:

Programmers write the code that brings the game to life. They work on the game engine, implementing the mechanics, physics, AI, and other systems. Popular game engines like Unity and Unreal Engine provide tools to streamline this process.

**Art and Animation**:

Artists create the visual elements of the game, including 2D and 3D graphics, textures, animations, and special effects. Their work adds visual appeal and immersion to the game, contributing to its overall aesthetics.

**Sound and Music**sav :

Sound designers and composers create audio assets such as sound effects and music tracks. Audio plays a critical role in enhancing the player's emotional engagement and immersion in the game world.

**Testing and Quality Assurance**:

Quality assurance (QA) testers rigorously playtest the game to identify and report bugs, glitches, and gameplay issues. This iterative process ensures that the game is stable and enjoyable.

**Optimization and Performance**:

Developers optimize the game to run smoothly on various platforms and hardware configurations. This includes optimizing graphics, load times, and memory usage.

**Localization and Globalization**:

For games intended for international audiences, localization involves translating in-game text and adjusting cultural references to suit different regions and languages.

**Marketing and Promotion**:

The marketing team works on promoting the game through trailers, social media, press releases, and other marketing strategies. Building anticipation and excitement among the target audience is crucial for a game's success.

**Launch and Post-launch Support**:

The game is released to the public on various platforms and storefronts. Post-launch support includes addressing player feedback, releasing updates, and providing ongoing maintenance to keep the game enjoyable and free of major issues.

**Community Engagement**:

Developers often engage with the player community through forums, social media, and live streams. They listen to player feedback and use it to improve the game and foster a dedicated player base.

Game development is a dynamic and creative field that requires a combination of technical expertise, artistic talent, and a deep understanding of player psychology. Successful game development involves teamwork, dedication, and a commitment to delivering enjoyable and memorable gaming experiences.

Gaming is playing an electronic video game, which is often done on a dedicated gaming console, PC or smartphone. People who often play video games are called gamers.

Ajay, better known online as Total Gaming, or more commonly known as Ajju Bhai by his fans, is an Indian gaming YouTuber who live-streams the battle royale game Garena Free Fire on YouTube. He is the most subscribed Indian gaming YouTuber. Ajay was born in 1994 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and is 28 years old.

Ajay currently has 6 YouTube channels; Total Gaming, which presently has 32 million subscribers, Ajay Verse, which presently has over 6.6 million subscribers, Ajju Bhai, which has 621k subscribers, TG Highlights, which has 1.1 million subscribers, Total Gaming Shorts, that has 875k subscribers, and TG Tournaments, which has almost 353k subscribers. The last 3 YouTube channels have been created by Ajay in just a year over the span of 2021. Ajay’s reach on social media has expanded into other platforms like Instagram where he has 3.3 million followers, Facebook with 4.9 million followers, and Twitter with more than 156k followers.

Career

Ajay started playing low-end mobile games like Clash of Clans in 2015. He moved on to playing Garena Free Fire in 2018 after he saw a few of his friends playing it, as it was gaining popularity in India at that time. He did not have a mobile phone that could support such games, so he started playing the game on his PC. After mastering the game’s mechanics, he decided to begin his YouTube journey as a content creator and created his channel on October 9, 2018.

At that time, though PUBG was the most famous game in India and was trending amongst most gamers, he started playing Free Fire instead and had a lot of success. PUBG was eventually banned in India in September 2020, which worked out great for Ajay. Viewers flocked to the channel as Garena Free Fire was a decent alternative to PUBG, and with the mammoth popularity of PUBG, players needed an astute alternative to satisfy their Battle Boyal needs.

Ajay’s first-ever YouTube video titled - “Free Fire: EPIC WIN! Total 24 Kills SQUAD Match Best Highlights Gameplay” dates back to December 2, 2018.

He started uploading videos of Garena Free Fire tips-and-tricks, which were on PC. He soon shifted back to his mobile phone after purchasing a better one and started live-streaming gaming videos. He would usually play the "Clash Squad" mode on Free Fire. The channel was a "Free Fire only" channel until 2020 when he started live-streaming the game Grand Theft Auto 5. He then started expanding his channel by playing Spiderman and Incredible Hulk. This made him one of the few variety live-streamers in India. Presently, Ajay plays games like Call of Duty, PUBG, Free Fire, and GTA5 on his channel, and keeps posting videos on his 6 channels, all of which are dedicated to gaming content.

Net Worth

Ajay’s net worth is courted to be an estimated $3 million. Most of Ajay’s earnings come from his social media presence as a content creator and from esports competitions. On YouTube, his average earnings are around the $7K mark per video, excluding brand-sponsored deals, for which he could charge upwards of $10k per video. On Instagram, he could potentially earn upwards of an estimated $7k for a brand-sponsored post.

Personal Life

Ajay was born in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. He completed his education at an undisclosed school, after which he took up a diploma and eventually dropped out. Though being the most subscribed gaming YouTuber in India, YouTube is not his full-time occupation; he is a software engineer, a freelancer, and a "growth hacker", and is believed to be working in Surat, Gujarat. He can code in many languages including PHP and JavaScript. He has not revealed his face as yet, hence a lot of details about his private life are currently unknown.

Social Media

Ajay’s dominance on social media is very evident with over 40.5 million subscribers on YouTube over 6 channels, while on Instagram he has 3.3 million followers, and on Twitter, he has 156k followers.

Content on YouTube

Most of Ajay’s content revolves around Garena Free Fire. His 4 other channels are also primarily Free Fire channels, but he occasionally includes games like Call of Duty, PUBG, and GTA5. Ajay usually uploads 2 videos every day.

Nathan Johnson Graham, famously known as UnspeakableGaming or Unspeakable, is a 24-year-old American YouTuber who got his road to fame through Minecraft gameplay and unique challenges. It was in the year 2016 when his Minecraft gaming ideas gained popularity and his name has been listed among the top YouTubers in the world.

On his YouTube channel, Nathan also shares fun videos performing unbelievable challenges and pranks on his friends. He is active on other social media platforms as well like Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and TikTok. On Instagram, Nathan is about to touch a fan following of 1 million soon, as he has 936k followers as of now. He has a total of ten accounts on YouTube where he uploads quirky and funny videos with 13.9 million subscribers.

This young social media sensation is not only one of the best streamers on YouTube with millions of subscribers, but also runs his own brand. His merchandise, Unspeakable, skyrocketed his career, so much so that by 2020, he had more than 130,000 happy customers. The products that his merchandise website provides are shirts, backpacks, hoodies, t-shirts, computer accessories, and more. Nathan has collaborated with various other YouTubers as well, such as Moosecraft, 09sharkboy, and more.

Nathan began his journey on YouTube in 2012 with his very first account by the name UnspeakableGaming on October 9. After almost a month, he started posting videos about the Minecraft series, namely, Minecraft Survival Island. Nathan got his first silver button from YouTube in 2015 because of his most popular video from the series posted in 2013.

In the year 2016, his videos on Minecraft grabbed the viewers' attention in millions and his hard work got recognition. Just after this, in 2017, he launched another channel on YouTube, Unspeakable, for funny videos and insane challenges. Gaming is the field that attracted Nathan always and his passion for this is to get great support from his fans.

In 2017, he started his other YouTube channel, UnspeakablePlays, focused on Minecraft maps, Minecraft Pocket Edition, challenges, and more. Over the years he collaborated with many fellow YouTubers. Nathan also launched an app for gaming lovers inspired by Minecraft. He also runs his label - Unspeakable - and offers a wide range of products on the official website.

Nathan has multiple sources of income; however, his main sources are his YouTube channels. His estimated net worth according to Forbes is 28.5 million as of 2023, which he earns from the ten successful YouTube channels alone. His other sources of income are from his own merchandise as he gets tons of orders from his fans and supporters.

Nathan was born on December 5, 1997. Not much is known about his early years. Presently, he lives in Dallas, Texas. Nathan has dated fellow YouTuber Kayco, whose real name is Kayla Conley. The two started dating when they were in high school. However, both parted ways in 2019 after dating each other for years. Since then, Nathan has been enjoying singlehood and is crazy about cars. He owns a Mercedes-AMG C 63 S.

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