Richard D. Duke: Systems Thinker, Game Science Founder & Beloved Mentor

Abstract

BackgroundThis remembrance of Richard “Dick” Duke, one of the founding members of the International Simulation and Gaming Association (ISAGA), and dedicated promoter of game science, contains Duke’s contribution to the field of simulation and gaming, as a retrospective into the past, and as inspiration for the present and the future of this discipline. Duke has been a highly respected colleague, and a beloved friend for many in the scientific community. He will be remembered for his academic contributions, but more so for his commitment to support young talent, and for his aim to address societal problems in all of his doing.PurposeThe goal of this article is to reflect on the work of Richard D. Duke and the influence he had and still has on the simulation and gaming research and practice community. The overview of his work illustrates his specific approach towards simulation and gaming, while the personal words of colleagues he worked with over the years combine professional and personal perspectives on the work and life of Richard D. Duke.Research DesignThe article presents a brief literature review along with a collection of contributions from researchers and practitioners in the field of simulation and gaming.Data CollectionThis obituary dos not represent a scientific article as such. However, a careful review of the articles and books of Richard D. Duke has been carried out for this article, and colleagues have contributed with their thoughts and memories.ResultsThe overview of Richard D. Duke’s work shows how he approached simulation and gaming as a powerful form of human communication, especially suited to analyse and design complex problems. All simulation game design is driven by the purpose to represent and explore alternative solutions and future states of a given situation. Duke’s careful and detailed conceptualisation of simulation gaming as interactive language represents a wealth of information for current and future researchers and practitioners in the field of simulation and gaming.ConclusionAfter more than 50 years of his first publication in the field of simulation and gaming, Duke’s contributions are still highly relevant to the science and practice in this area. His ideas inspire a large number of researchers and practitioners, and his foundational work had and has a large impact on how the science of simulation and gaming has developed and still advances.