Nova Alea

June 7, 2016 7:39 AM

Nova Alea is a small real-estate speculation game loosely modeled on the rent-gap theory. Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Rock, Paper, Shotgun has an article; the developer shows up in the comments.

posted by clorox (7 comments total)

It is probably worth mentioning that this is from Molleindustria, which specializes in subversive anti-capitalist games, many of which have been covered before, such as:
Unmanned - The life of a drone pilot
A communist space shooter
Oligarchy
posted by blahblahblah at 8:38 AM on June 7, 2016 [3 favorites]

Fascinating thanks for the post!
posted by Potomac Avenue at 9:42 AM on June 7, 2016

Reminds me of the Landlord's Game, another game designed to illuminate a real estate theory.
posted by fitnr at 9:51 AM on June 7, 2016 [3 favorites]

This is brilliant. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.

Mentally I slot it in the same category of games like the Parable of the Polygons, or September 12 - game as pedagogy.

A model is shown, its working and repercussions taught through play. The questions arising then can be divided into two:
1) Is the model presented in a (generally) accurate fashion?
2) How closely does our world adhere to this model?

This is a much more productive conversation to have. In the case of NYC, I'd say: 1) Yes, and 2) Yes.
posted by suedehead at 12:22 PM on June 7, 2016

Linux build core dumps. =/
posted by PMdixon at 6:06 PM on June 7, 2016

oh, this was a nice game.
posted by rebent at 7:11 PM on June 7, 2016

I "win"
posted by clorox at 4:49 PM on June 13, 2016