''Participatory Chinatown'' is a video game released and implemented in May 2010 to engage people in Boston's

Chinatown A Chinatown () is an ethnic enclave of Chinese people located outside Greater China, most often in an urban setting. Areas known as "Chinatown" exist throughout the world, including Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa and Austra ...

neighborhood in the master planning process. It is a multiplayer game designed to be played in a large physical space. Players assume the role of a fictional character in the

neighborhood and they go on one of three missions: find a job, find a place to live, or find a place to socialize. In the first part of the game, players assume the role of their characters. In the second part of the game, they can act as themselves, and they are asked to prioritize values for the planning process. The players' comments and decisions are shared with decision-makers in the community to help with the development of the neighborhood. The game was designed by the

Engagement Game Lab Emerson College is a private college with its main campus in Boston, Massachusetts. It also maintains campuses in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California and Well, Limburg, Netherlands ( Kasteel Well). Founded in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson as a ...

Emerson College Emerson College is a private college with its main campus in Boston, Massachusetts. It also maintains campuses in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California and Well, Limburg, Netherlands ( Kasteel Well). Founded in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson as a ...

in partnership with

Muzzy Lane Muzzy Lane Software is a technology company developing game-based learning software tools in the Education Technology space. In 2015 they released Muzzy Lane Author, a suite of tools that allow educators to create their own game-based learning a ...

, the

Metropolitan Area Planning Council Greater Boston is the metropolitan region of New England encompassing the municipality of Boston (the capital of the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the most populous city in New England) and its surrounding areas. The region forms the northern ar ...

and the

Asian Community Development Corporation The Asian Community Development Corporation (ACDC) is a 501(c)(3) community development organization founded in 1987 with a focus on serving the Asian American community of Greater Boston. This organization is centered upon preserving the culture a ...

. In 2011, the game was named the best "direct impact game" by the organization Games for Change.

References

{{Reflist 2010 video games Chinatown, Boston Multiplayer video games Muzzy Lane games