Historical Simulations in the Classroom

Computer Simulation Game Design - Inform 7 Student Projects

Student Projects

My first round of experiments with student-designed historical simulation games using Inform 7 took place in December of 2007. As time has passsed, I have refined my instructional approach and rubric for the projects in order to facilitate increasingly more sophisticated simulations from my students. They are essentially alpha versions of the most developed simulations. These works are very simple and tend to be very linear as far as the main plot goes, more due to the limits of my instructions at the time than any other factor. Since they were developed as classroom assignments, they are somehwat polished, but far from thoroughly playtested. They may prove useful in the classroom in their own right and as examples of the possibilities of Inform as an educational tool. Consider having students play them and criticize their historical validity.

To run these simulation games

  1. Save the relevant game files below to your computer.
  2. Download and install the Gargoyle multi-platform interactive fiction interpreter.
  3. Run Gargoyle after installing it. A dialogue box will appear. Select the game file and begin

12th grade Historical Simulation Design Course: Varied Simulations

Ninth Grade History: Simulations of Early Medieval Villages on the Eve of Conversion to Christianity

McCall's Demos and Works in Progress

Politics, Power, and Persuasion Game file (Not a complete game but rather the outline of simulation behaviors).