Participatory Chinatown

In an effort to redefine the community planning process and better engage youth in local planning meetings, MAPC has partnered with the Asian Community Development Corporation (ACDC) and the Emerson College New Media program to create Participatory Chinatown, a fully-immersive, 3D game that puts residents in the driver’s seat as they shape the future of their neighborhood.

In Participatory Chinatown, community members complete “quests” as one of the game's virtual residents, allowing them to walk the neighborhood streets in someone else's shoes. There’s Hong, a recent immigrant seeking an apartment for his family; and Karen, a fourth-grade student searching the neighborhood for after-school activities. No matter which avatar they choose, game users will experience the multifaceted identities of Chinatown residents.

Game-based meetings use a combination of physical deliberation, virtual interaction, and Web-based input to provide residents with an entryway into serious community decision-making. The results of these meetings feed into the Chinatown “master planning” process.

To help lower cultural and language barriers, local youth served as informal interpreters and technology assistants. The game is bilingual, available in both English and Chinese.

Participatory Chinatown runs on the Sandstone game engine, created by software developer and project partner Muzzy Lane Software. The project is funded by a grant from the MacArthur Foundation's Digital Media and Learning Competition.

To learn more and play the game, visit participatorychinatown.org.