Managing Editor Nancy Bartels has a great idea.
Suppose we get somebody with some deep pockets (you know who you are, now don't you?) to fund the development of a MMRPG that is about process automation?
Huh? What's a Mumrrpig...whatever it was you said?
If you don't know what an MMRPG is, ask one of your kids. It stands for Massively Multiplayer Role Playing Game...like Worlds of Warcraft, or the Sims, or even Second Life. They are addictive, cause players to do incredible amounts of research and learning, produce detailed, imaginative and problem-solving-oriented thinkers. And they have the added benefit of being cool. Waaaaaay cool.
Supposing we set a MMRPG up in a virtual refinery? Think of the challenges we could give the players, who'd have to learn controls and engineering just to play...think they won't? Ask any parent of a Worlds of Warcraft addict what their kid does...and if you are an adult WoW addict, speak up. You know who YOU are, too.
Level 2. Can't get to the plant on time because a bridge fell down.
Level 10. Keep the refinery running and defend against a cyber attack.
Level 21. A fire breaks out in the cat cracker unit.
Level 26. Management insists on a 10% increase in efficiency.
All the engines are there-- there is enough simulation software available to make the refinery real. All we need is to get somebody to write the game, and distribution for it...
Anybody going to step up?
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