After the success of the "Settlement Game," which we wrote about on our portal, students and academics from the Faculty of Architecture at the Silesian University of Technology have prepared a new project - the "Metropolis Game." The card game, created for the Upper Silesian-Zagłębi Metropolis (GZM), has been well received by the region's authorities. There is a good chance that it will become not only an educational tool, but also an interesting promotional gadget to better understand the unique structure of the area and its potential.
project team
© Urbanmodel
metropolis game - learning through play
The aim of the game is to popularize knowledge about the GZM, a metropolis with a unique urban structure, combining areas diverse in function and character - from industrial to cultural and residential areas. "Game of Metropolis" allows those playing to explore these complex relationships interactively through various forms of gameplay, such as quizzes and map building. Each card corresponds to one of the 41 municipalities that make up the metropolis, and additional information and QR codes provide access to interactive 3D models of key objects in the region.
"The metropolis game"
© Urbanmodel
Tomasz Bradecki, PhD, supervisor of the project and of the Urbanmodel research circle, describes the process of creating the game: "The work on the project was carried out in a large group during urban design classes at the Faculty of Architecture in the 2023/2024 semester. This is a continuation of the series 'Urban Structure Models', which already included studies for Gliwice, Zabrze and Aachen. Each of these editions was an experiment in which we tried to process spatial data using GIS in the form of models. This year's edition was particularly challenging due to the complexity of the GZM area, which is both diverse and spatially complex. Presenting it in the form of a game was the first challenge of its kind for us.
"Game of Metropolis" test
© Urbanmodel
creation process
The "Game in the Metropolis" project was created in cooperation with an international team, which included not only male and female students of the Silesian University of Technology, but also partners from foreign universities. Prof. Lamberto Amistadi from the University of Bologna and students from the ERASMUS program tested successive versions of the game, which influenced the final shape of the project.
trailer for "Game of Metropolis"
© Urbanmodel
Tomasz Bradecki also expresses pride in the team's achievements, stressing that they managed to create a game that not only entertains, but also educates: "Every stage of work, from data collection to card design, was a huge challenge. Working in the PBL (Project-Based Learning) formula gives me great satisfaction, because the students have to work together systemically as a team, completing activities to a single standard. We finished the project with a publication, industrial designs and a finished game, which we are popularizing and will soon make available for sale."
boxes and cards
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Magdalena Sikora and Izabela Mularczyk - editors of monograph and project leader - explain the scientific context of the game: "Our game is more than just entertainment - it is a full-fledged educational tool. In the monograph we have developed, we have included pioneering analyses using GIS that show different aspects of the structure of cities in a way that has not yet been seen. We are pleased that we have succeeded in creating something unique that can be used in both education and promotion of the metropolis."
QR code cards
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Justyna Nowak, responsible for the graphic design, also stresses the importance of aesthetics: "Graphic design was one of the key elements we paid special attention to. We based it on elements of GZM's visual identity, creating a coherent and aesthetically pleasing product that catches the eye and encourages people to play. We wanted the graphics not only to be attractive, but also functional and easy to read, to make it easier to understand the structures of the metropolis."
card and 3D model
© Urbanmodel
game mechanics and interactive possibilities
The "Game of Metropolis" set consists of 65 cards, including classic playing cards and information cards containing relevant data about each municipality. GIS technology was used to process spatial information about the region.
Some of the analyses, Bradecki stresses, are pioneering on a national scale: Some of the studies we included in the monograph accompanying the game are innovative solutions that have not been used in this way before. Thanks to them, the game combines both entertainment and a valuable lesson on the structure of the city.
obverse template
© Urbanmodel
The project is still under development, and the next step will be to create a full version of the board game inspired by the popular "Monopoly", which will provide those playing with even more knowledge about the GZM. The first prototype of the board game will be tested during educational events, such as Researchers' Night and workshops for high school students.
Bradecki reveals the team's further plans: "In the future we want to expand the game, creating a board version that will not only provide entertainment, but also a large dose of knowledge about GZM. The prototype will be tested during the Researchers' Night, as well as in workshops with high school students. In this way, we continue our mission to popularize knowledge about the metropolis in an accessible and engaging way."
reverse template
© Urbanmodel
The potential of the game in promoting the metropolis
"The Metropolis Game has the potential to become not only a local educational tool, but also an attractive gadget to promote the region. With its interactive features and aesthetically pleasing visuals, the game can attract both residents and residents of the region, as well as tourists and tourists interested in learning more about the structure of the Upper Silesian-Zagłębów Metropolis.
reverse map
© Urbanmodel
The project is not only an interesting experiment in urban planning, but also an educational tool that popularizes knowledge about one of the most important areas in Poland in an accessible way. It is worth following the further development of the "Game of Metropolis", which will certainly open up new possibilities in education and promotion of the MZM.
cross section
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