Participatory Chinatown
{{Short description|2010 video game}}
{{Orphan|date=July 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox VG
|title = Participatory Chinatown
|image = Participatory Chinatown cover.jpg
|developer = Engagement Game Lab
|publisher =
|director =
|designer =
|composer =
|engine =
|released = May 2010
|genre = Simulation
|modes = Multiplayer
|platforms =
}}
Participatory Chinatown is a video game released and implemented in May 2010 to engage people in Boston's Chinatown neighborhood in the master planning process. It is a multiplayer game designed to be played in a large physical space. Players assume the role of a fictional character in the Chinatown neighborhood and they go on one of three missions: find a job, find a place to live, or find a place to socialize.{{cite web |url=http://www.participatorychinatown.org/ |title=Home |website=Participatory Chinatown |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20101227231920/http://www.participatorychinatown.org/ |archive-date=27 December 2010}}{{cite news| url = http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2010/05/06/chinatown_the_video_game/| title = Chinatown, the video game |work=The Boston Globe |date=6 May 2010 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20100509102812/http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2010/05/06/chinatown_the_video_game/ |archive-date=9 May 2010 }} In the first part of the game, players assume the role of their characters.{{cite web |url=http://participatorychinatown.org/characters.html |title=The Characters |website=Participatory Chinatown |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528192001/http://www.participatorychinatown.org/characters.html |archive-date=2013-05-28}}{{cite web |url=http://archpaper.com/news/articles.asp?id=4632 |title=Boston's Chinatown Goes Sim City |website=The Architect's Newspaper |date=14 May 2010 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20120606130005/http://archpaper.com/news/articles.asp?id=4632 |archive-date=6 June 2012 |first=Julia |last=Galef}} In the second part of the game, they can act as themselves, and they are asked to prioritize values for the planning process. The players' comments and decisions are shared with decision-makers in the community to help with the development of the neighborhood.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesforchange.org/play/participatory-chinatown/ |title=Participatory Chinatown |website=Games for Change |accessdate=2012-03-20 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223185124/http://www.gamesforchange.org/play/participatory-chinatown/ |archivedate=2012-02-23 }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.shareable.net/blog/participatory-chinatown|title = Participatory Chinatown|date = 4 May 2010 |first=Jeremy Adam |last=Smith |website=Shareable |access-date=10 February 2024}}
The game was designed by the Engagement Game Lab at Emerson College in partnership with Muzzy Lane, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council and the Asian Community Development Corporation.{{Cite web|url=http://thecityfix.com/blog/participatory-research-as-path-to-equitable-transportation/|title = Participatory Research as Path to Equitable Transportation |date = 23 September 2010 |website=The City Fix |first=Jonna |last=McKone}}{{cite web |url=http://asiancdc.org/node/264 |title=Participatory Chinatown |website=Asian Community Development Corporation |accessdate=2012-03-20 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312032814/http://asiancdc.org/node/264 |archivedate=2012-03-12 }}{{cite web |url=http://muzzylane.com/project/participatory_chinatown |title=Participatory Chinatown |accessdate=2012-03-20 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120624230044/http://muzzylane.com/project/participatory_chinatown |archivedate=2012-06-24 |website=Muzzy Lane}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.mapc.org/node/883 |title=Participatory Chinatown |website=Metropolitan Area Planning Council |access-date=2012-03-20 |archive-date=2013-03-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329134809/http://www.mapc.org/node/883 |url-status=dead }} In 2011, the game was named the best "direct impact game" by the organization Games for Change.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesforchange.org/festival2011/awards/direct-impact/participatory-chinatown/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20110928144122/http://www.gamesforchange.org/festival2011/awards/direct-impact/participatory-chinatown/ |archive-date=28 September 2011 |title=Participatory Chinatown (winner) |website=Games for Change |date=2011}}{{Cite web|url=https://today.emerson.edu/2011/06/24/emerson-team-wins-big-at-sundance-of-video-games/|title=Emerson team wins big at "Sundance of video games" |website=Emerson Today |date=24 June 2011}}