PoliSIM is a Role-Playing Game-based (RPG) Educational Program for teaching principles of Law and Government. The game is intended to be built up in stages with increasing levels of complexity, which will be tailored to students at corresponding stages of their education in policy and government.

I originally conceived of the game while watching the Netflix series House of Cards. It had occurred to me that there existed a vast divide between the academic study of Political Science and the actual practice of politics. I coupled this notion with the observation that kids today cannot be pried away from video games for long enough to do their homework, and the idea to teach Political Science in a digital format was born.

PoliSIM begin their experience as a lowly staffing assistant to a lobbyist, congressional aide, or press correspondent. They will make their way up the ranks of public service, navigating the political system through means legal, illegal, or illicit; and demonstrating mastery of the principles of government as they work their way toward the top, to become President, Supreme Court Justice, or Congressional leader. In the course of the game, players will participate in government affairs, passing legislation, running for public office, or dealing with domestic or international crises.

PoliSIM might be played in different forums; either classroom-based, or in a Massive Multi-player Online (MMO) format. For undergraduates in Political Science programs, the game would be classroom-based. Players at this level would interact with their classmates, working together (or against one another) to accomplish specific tasks, set for them by the classroom instructor. Such tasks might include: passing an article of legislation; holding confirmation hearings for appointees to the Cabinet or the Supreme Court; writing a speech; adding an amendment to the Constitution; or some other function commonly performed by the US Government. Outcomes of the game range from post-nuclear apocalyptic dystopia to enlightened golden age.

Last year, a group of Business students at Suffolk University did extensive market research and analysis to get a sense of the project’s viability; to refine the project's parameters; and looking at sources of funding. Last semester, a group of students at Florida Southern College put together a Business Plan for the purpose of marketing the project to game developers. Additionally, a group of students at Humber College have been developing a demo version of the game, to serve as a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to present to game developers.

For the purposes of further development, I will need another team to formulate the curriculum of the game. Ideally, the team will be drawn from students in Political Science programs. The team will review selected Political Science programs at reputable Universities and network with Political Science professors to develop the game’s syllabus and testing materials. Ideally, the curriculum should specifically include questions that will show up on the LSAT. I would also like the group to form relationships with elected officials, and other people currently working in politics, to learn what qualities (beyond an academic understanding of Political Science) go into the making of a successful politician. By way of making a start I’ve formulated a survey for professors and politicians to get at this question in more depth. The survey addresses questions that are harder to define, such as: how would you instill good ethics in your students? What would you consider the most valuable character asset for a person aspiring to public office?