Twenty Years of Simulation/Gaming: Reminiscences and Thoughts of a Scottish Practitioner

Abstract

In this essay, the author looks back on 20 years of experience in simulation/gaming. He begins by describing how he changed careers from physics to educational technology in 1973 and how he immediately became involved in the development of two major simulation/games-THE POWER STATION GAME and the BRUCE OIL MANAGEMENT GAME-each of which subsequently spawned a large number of other gaming and simulation projects. He then looks at how the use of games and simulations has spread throughout education and training during the past 20 years and examines the impact that electronic calculators and computers have had on simulation/gaming, using his own experiences as illustrations in both cases. Finally, he offers a personal view on the likely future role of simulation/gaming in education and training.