The Demgames project has been developed as part the Local e-Democracy National Project, funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, exploring how digital technology can be used to engage people in democratic processes. The games themselves were produced by NorthLincsNet, and developed by Delib.
The three games on the Demgames site - Captain Campaign, Councillor Quest II and Money Manager - aim to inform young people about key aspects of the UK political process in a fun way.
Captain Campaign
Captain Campaign gives an overview of the major challenges involved in running a public campaign around a political issue.
In particular, it emphasises that in this key component of modern democracy an advocate must compete with people who oppose his or her view when trying to influence decision-makers. It also highlights the importance of communicating well with politicians and the public.
Councillor Quest II
Councillor Quest II gives an introduction into the work of local councils and councillors.
The game underlines the fact that councillors are servants of their local community and that their job is ultimately to keep electors happy. It also shows that councillors act within time constraints and must make good decisions in dealing with a wide range of local issues.
Money Manager
Money Manager gives an introduction to council spending.
This council management game puts you in charge of the budget. Perform well and receive the gratitude of the locals, fail and find yourself out of a job. The game emphasises the need to keep an eye on the budget, to spend wisely and to watch out for emergencies.
