As Tia has mentioned the invitation for people to try out IndustryPlayer on a 30 day trial I thought it would be good to have a thread for anyone who wants to discuss it.
All registrants have been accorded a 30 day free licence to register here To download a special SCOPE code has been created in the dropdown at the download menu. Select SCOPE and you will receive free credits to play for 30 days.
I've been playing IP since 18 August 2003 and am now part of the development team. Hence I can answer any questions (I hope) and would be interested in any feedback.
Thankyou Corinne for fielding the thread on IndustryPlayer, which is a unique business game experience and probably one of the most useful to showcase from the viewpoint that Maths and Economics are very difficult to teach to younger audiences and having a game makes those subjects far more appealing.
Can you share some of your firsthand findings, being a specialist teacher yourself, that might shed some light in this regard?
I haven't used IP yet in the classroom as it is more designed for business students (MBA), although I have tried to relate the MBA objectives to IP and have begun to design some resources for all ages to be used with IP in different subject areas.
eg. the difference between raw, intermediate and consumer goods, and looking at supply chains for lower secondary geography
eg lots of applications for using excel in conjunction with IP for maths, economics, ICT
eg for MBA students, use of different strategies (to maximise MS or CSR instead of just equity), preparation of presentations based on IP data, use of IP consultant biographies to write job descriptions, etc.
I have a list of such lesson plans (must get Thomas to put them up on site), but the main thing I find from IP is that I learn a lot of the financial terminology, and how these terms are related. I can also try out different strategies and see how they turn out. I learn a lot from watching other people's strategies...
eg last year we had a tournament for business schools from around the world - and discovered just how many strategies I had learnt without knowing it. I could run rings around these business management students at first - but by their 6th or 7th level some of them had discovered the value of eg picking the right licence due to CSR ratings etc, or of waiting till the market is right before making a turn. It was good as a moderator to just watch different teams (as I was not allowed to actually play in the proper tournament - just the practice sessions beforehand).
The feedback we got from this tournament was that it was valuable to work in teams and discuss strategies. They also found it useful having to react to sudden changes in the virtual world - as we changed the interest and tax rates and altered demand due to certain events.
Anyway i hope some people here will give IP a try. I've seen no registration requests yet. Would be useful to have some other educators try out the game and then maybe discuss it properly at the end of this seminar (maybe in SL if I don't get stuck in a wall). If there is an interest I will dig out the objectives and lesson plans I have on our private forum and post here.
eg. the difference between raw, intermediate and consumer goods, and looking at supply chains for lower secondary geography
eg lots of applications for using excel in conjunction with IP for maths, economics, ICT
eg for MBA students, use of different strategies (to maximise MS or CSR instead of just equity), preparation of presentations based on IP data, use of IP consultant biographies to write job descriptions, etc.
I have a list of such lesson plans (must get Thomas to put them up on site), but the main thing I find from IP is that I learn a lot of the financial terminology, and how these terms are related. I can also try out different strategies and see how they turn out. I learn a lot from watching other people's strategies...
eg last year we had a tournament for business schools from around the world - and discovered just how many strategies I had learnt without knowing it. I could run rings around these business management students at first - but by their 6th or 7th level some of them had discovered the value of eg picking the right licence due to CSR ratings etc, or of waiting till the market is right before making a turn. It was good as a moderator to just watch different teams (as I was not allowed to actually play in the proper tournament - just the practice sessions beforehand).
The feedback we got from this tournament was that it was valuable to work in teams and discuss strategies. They also found it useful having to react to sudden changes in the virtual world - as we changed the interest and tax rates and altered demand due to certain events.
Anyway i hope some people here will give IP a try. I've seen no registration requests yet. Would be useful to have some other educators try out the game and then maybe discuss it properly at the end of this seminar (maybe in SL if I don't get stuck in a wall). If there is an interest I will dig out the objectives and lesson plans I have on our private forum and post here.
Hi,
I have downloaded IndustryPlayer, though I can't find any special link to a SCOPE code. Consequently, I haven't yet installed it. Where does the SCOPE code for registering the software for 30 days appear?
Dan
Hi Folks
I hope everyone is enjoying their Easter long weekend. It is a beautiful spring day here.
Below are the *new* instructions for those who would like to explore industry player this weekend.
The IP people are keeping an eye out for scope participants and will and upgrade your account automatically.
IP is a game for mastering the complexity of the business world. Supply and demand, competition, and the like.
I found it a challenge at first but after playing a few rounds I eventually got the hang of it
Therese
I hope everyone is enjoying their Easter long weekend. It is a beautiful spring day here.
Below are the *new* instructions for those who would like to explore industry player this weekend.
The IP people are keeping an eye out for scope participants and will and upgrade your account automatically.
IP is a game for mastering the complexity of the business world. Supply and demand, competition, and the like.
I found it a challenge at first but after playing a few rounds I eventually got the hang of it
Therese
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Run the IndustryPlayer Setup fileWhen the download has finished, please confirm to run industryplayer_setup.exe. The IndustryPlayer Setup Wizard will appear and guide you through the rest of the installation. |
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Start Your Corporation
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This looks neat! I'm a Mac user so will check out IndustryPlayer when I get my hands on a Windows computer.
Thanks for organizing this Corinne, and thanks Therese for the clear instructions. I'll probably need it! :-)
Thanks for organizing this Corinne, and thanks Therese for the clear instructions. I'll probably need it! :-)
Follow the "here" link in the first post in this thread to get directly to the registration page. This takes you to the education section of the site.
Then you can download the program and enter username and password etc assuming you have received my email.... ie if I am awake to manually add the edu account.
Then you can download the program and enter username and password etc assuming you have received my email.... ie if I am awake to manually add the edu account.
If anyone has already started an account if they email me at angua@industryplayer.com using their educational address i will upgrade the existing account if possible. (Not checked that yet - worse thing that will happen is you having to restart a level).
Janet, Richard and Diego should have received their registration emails by now. I just checked our database for SCOPE applications.
Hi Corinne
I've just downloaded it, but I'm going to be away for most of next week, so I probably won't get to see any messages.
Emma
I've just downloaded it, but I'm going to be away for most of next week, so I probably won't get to see any messages.
Emma
Can't see your edu request. You need to register on the education part of the website, the link is in the first post of this thread.
Blush:
It was me being stupid. I just went to the normal download page, not the education one.
I've now registered with my work address - though I'm not round at present. I hope that I've therefore managed to disable my out of office reply, but sorry if I haven't.
I'm not going to be able to do anything much though, over the next few days.
It was me being stupid. I just went to the normal download page, not the education one.
I've now registered with my work address - though I'm not round at present. I hope that I've therefore managed to disable my out of office reply, but sorry if I haven't.
I'm not going to be able to do anything much though, over the next few days.
Dan and Emma are both now registered. if anyone doesn't like the holding name I gave them I can change them. Any new registrants can put a desired holding name in the notes field if they wish.
(If people like Emma are out of office and can't access their work email skype me on angualee and i will give you your password.)
(If people like Emma are out of office and can't access their work email skype me on angualee and i will give you your password.)
Sorry Corinne; I'm confused about what to do next. I clicked on the download link you provided & installed IP but not sure if that downloaded the academic version or the plain vanilla one? Also, when I registered I mistakenly chose 'College' as my type of institution instead of SCOPE (not sure that even appeared on the list). I know I went to the educational registration site... What must I do next?
Gina
Gina
Hi Gina,
Luckily you used a college email address so I gave you an edu trial account anyway. You should have received an email with your password etc by now so you can start playing.
The normal download is OK - there's no special download for the edu version but the edu version unlocks all features and gives you some free credit points to play the first 5 levels free of charge. Non-edu accounts have to buy the full version and pay for each level from level 2.
This also means anyone else who wants to start playing can register their new holding and start level 1 and I will convert it to edu as soon as i see the edu application. I am checking twice a day - or contact me on skype if necessary.
There are also special educational packages for registering groups of 20 students (plus 1 teacher account) if anyone wishes to use it for a full class. Will post more details of this when people have had a chance to try out the game.
Luckily you used a college email address so I gave you an edu trial account anyway. You should have received an email with your password etc by now so you can start playing.
The normal download is OK - there's no special download for the edu version but the edu version unlocks all features and gives you some free credit points to play the first 5 levels free of charge. Non-edu accounts have to buy the full version and pay for each level from level 2.
This also means anyone else who wants to start playing can register their new holding and start level 1 and I will convert it to edu as soon as i see the edu application. I am checking twice a day - or contact me on skype if necessary.
There are also special educational packages for registering groups of 20 students (plus 1 teacher account) if anyone wishes to use it for a full class. Will post more details of this when people have had a chance to try out the game.
Just want to share an experience I had lately.
Thomas has added the dimensions of Corporate Social Responsibility and carbon footprinting to industry Player to raise awareness about how business impacts our environment. Needless to say I am very excited about the direction industry player is moving in. Thomas, a German fellow who now lives in Brazil, started this game as a university project and has been nursing it along beside his regular job for years.
I went to an event last week with people I worked with 15 years ago who now work for a very large gaming company. I screwed up my courage and gave them the three minute pitch for IP. Building a vision of a game that could remind us to be socially responsible, green and aware of the role of business in society.
The response was not what I expected. Thankfully these guys were honest, candid and told me that they were in business to make money, not games. They sell whatever people will buy and people seem to like addictive games with showy graphics. Arrgh!
http://ea-spouse.livejournal.com/274.html?page=46
Ah well I'm over it now Seems there are plenty of people who are fed up with companies who put profits first and people last. Just as the open source movement has us rethinking software development. I look forward to the day when the game industry will evolve into peer developed learning tools that benefit everyone.
Thomas has added the dimensions of Corporate Social Responsibility and carbon footprinting to industry Player to raise awareness about how business impacts our environment. Needless to say I am very excited about the direction industry player is moving in. Thomas, a German fellow who now lives in Brazil, started this game as a university project and has been nursing it along beside his regular job for years.
I went to an event last week with people I worked with 15 years ago who now work for a very large gaming company. I screwed up my courage and gave them the three minute pitch for IP. Building a vision of a game that could remind us to be socially responsible, green and aware of the role of business in society.
The response was not what I expected. Thankfully these guys were honest, candid and told me that they were in business to make money, not games. They sell whatever people will buy and people seem to like addictive games with showy graphics. Arrgh!
http://ea-spouse.livejournal.com/274.html?page=46
Ah well I'm over it now Seems there are plenty of people who are fed up with companies who put profits first and people last. Just as the open source movement has us rethinking software development. I look forward to the day when the game industry will evolve into peer developed learning tools that benefit everyone.
Next innovation will be adding carbon footprints to CSR to keep up with current global warming issues. (Don't know if Thomas has mentioned this to you yet Tia as you missed our Skype conference over the weekend). It seems IP just keeps evolving to include factors which are seen as important to modern day businesses.
Re: peer developed learning tools - the main reason I like IP is that the team (some of it) is accessible to the players, and take note of suggestions and feedback in the forums etc.. Many innovations to IP over time have been due to players' suggestions. Also most of the team began as players who just got more and more involved. Our current mods are just players who volunteer to help others. This community spirit is MY reason for playing IP.
Re: peer developed learning tools - the main reason I like IP is that the team (some of it) is accessible to the players, and take note of suggestions and feedback in the forums etc.. Many innovations to IP over time have been due to players' suggestions. Also most of the team began as players who just got more and more involved. Our current mods are just players who volunteer to help others. This community spirit is MY reason for playing IP.