Horns of a Dilemma Tough Ethical Decisions through Game Design Eric Todd Founder, Orange Monkey Games erictodd@gmail.com

Discuss You chose to be here! Why is ethical decision making in games interesting to you?

Definition “An ethical dilemma is a complex situation that often involves an apparent mental conflict between moral imperatives, in which to obey one would result in transgressing another.” - Wikipedia Entry for “Ethical Dilemma”

Goal Discover how to reliably create ethical dilemmas in games! Play, Experimentation, Discussion, Bits of Theory Catalog modes of failure Discover conditions necessary for success

Discuss What is a game you’ve played that tried to create an ethical dilemma but failed?

Discuss What is a game you’ve played that tried to create an ethical dilemma but failed? What is a game you’ve played that tried to create an ethical dilemma and succeeded?

Country Doctor™ As a new frontier doctor, treat your patients and keep your spouse alive! Patient Deck - 20 This is a single player game Take deck of patient cards, remove top for cards (rules, rules, stats, blank), shuffle This gives <Click> 20 card deck of patient cards Gather a set of dice, <Click> these are your available treatments Now deal out 8 patient cards and 1 spouse card <click> 2d4 2d6 2d8 2d10 1d20 Available Treatments

Country Doctor™ As a new frontier doctor, treat your patients and keep your spouse alive! Patient Deck - 11 Patients Board should look something like this Now, one at a time, turn over a patient card and treat them – or not Spouse 2d4 2d6 2d8 2d10 1d20 Available Treatments

Country Doctor™ As a new frontier doctor, treat your patients and keep your spouse alive! Patient Deck - 11 Dead Patients Patients Cured Patients To treat, pick a die and SPEND IT. roll it, If you role HIGER than the number, the patient is cured You can give up without treatment, or try multiple times If you give up, the patient is dead. Put the card in the “cured” or “dead” pile, as appropriate 3 Spouse 2d4 2d6 2d8 2d10 1d20 Available Treatments

Country Doctor™ As a new frontier doctor, treat your patients and keep your spouse alive! Patient Deck - 11 Dead Patients 3 Patients Cured Patients Repeat this until all the patients and your spouse are treated (or not) If your spouse dies, you LOSE Otherwise, score is number of treated patients Rules are on the top cards in your deck, as is the distribution of cards. 6 Spouse Available Treatments Last 0d4 0d6 0d8 0d10 0d20

Play! Two sets at each table Everyone try to play once

Challenge 1 Care more about the patients and spouse Constraints Decide what “care” means to you Make one design change Test early 20 minutes

Discuss What did you try that didn’t work well?

Discuss What did you try that didn’t work well? Why does the original game fail as a dilemma?

Theory Player must empathize with involved NPCs Jeb Haven’s GRUVI model Grateful Relatable Useful Vulnerable Investment Players care about NPCs more if they are…

The GRUVI Model: Creating Attachment Relatable - Transparent - Emotional - Predictable - Social Grateful - Thankful Reactions - Attributes Happiness - Humble - Proactive Useful - Powerful - Renewable - Adaptable - Resilient Virtual Agents Vulnerable - Mortal - Short Sighted - Hunted - Periodically Fragile Investment - Sacrifice - Future Potential - Support Structure - Multiple Cycles First little touch of theory. If you get stuck, look at this slide for inspiration. This is Jeb Haven’s GRUVI model!

Challenge 2a Add a third horn to the dilemma Constraints Multiple changes ok Test early 20 minutes

Discuss What was your third horn? What did you try that didn’t work well? What did work?

Theory Primary ethical systems Generalized structure of ethical dilemmas Mechanical motivation vs Player values

Ethical Systems Virtue Ethics Deontological Ethics Consequentialism One’s personal character and virtues define ethical behavior Deontological Ethics Ethical behavior is proper adherence to rules Consequentialism The consequences of action define ethical behavior e.g. NPC calls you on lying in-game e.g. I can’t do that, it’s against the rules e.g. Ends justify the means.

Structure of Ethical Dilemmas Conflict between ethics of action and ethics of outcome Good action → bad outcome Bad action → good outcome Conflict between ethical systems Good deontic action → bad consequential outcome Good consequential action → Bad virtue outcome Complicated by Imperfect information Omission vs Commission Harm vs Help Moral strictures and societal pressure

Mechanical Motivation vs Player Values Consider the spouse in Country Doctor Mechanics: Lose the spouse, lose the game Personal values: Losing spouse is heartbreaking Do mechanics help or hinder? May reinforce personal values. Positive synergy! May make decision to save her pragmatic Better if (mechanically) she’s just another patient?

Challenge 2b Add a third horn to the dilemma Increase emotional intensity Constraints Revision of earlier game No constraints on design changes Test early 30 minutes

Beta Test One volunteer from each group goes to another group Teach the volunteer your game Watch them play Ask them to give feedback and LISTEN! 10 minutes

Discuss What are the necessary conditions for success?

Necessary and Sufficient? Empathize with subjects of dilemma Use techniques to humanize NPCs Clear choice between two or more options Provide conflict between ethical systems, or Show conflict within an ethical system Show consequences of choices Best to have some of randomness & predictability Social reflection of choices, personal and social

Take Aways Tough ethical decisions can be intentionally created Good dilemmas put two ethical systems in conflict or show inconsistences within one Discovered some of the necessary conditions Must empathize with subjects of dilemma Must present clear, conflicting options Must show consequences of player’s choice Thank you all!! Contact me at: Eric Todd <erictodd@gmail.com> Please fill out your evaluations! If you have ideas on how to make this elective stronger, talk to me or at least email!!