A critical game for collective interactions around money

Abstract

This paper introduces a critical play experience, Survival of the Fittest?*, that challenges people to economically survive by generating alternative ideas on how and when to cooperate. Games set a definite environment to achieve, compete, socialize and exchange ideas. Play adds to the game environment by allowing players to generate their terms and critically evaluate the designated rules for them. In this work, benefiting from an unfinished co-play setting, we aim to learn from players’ experiences on collectively arranging and organizing their resources around a similar cause. This setting allows for an exploration of moral boundaries of economic interactions and the role of technologies. We further reflect on how players manage their shared resources, form relationships, re-interpret existing systems and examine analog and digital technologies.