Port Constructor

Today you will experience the challenge of developing and executing a Master plan in a port area. You must balance people, profit and planet and at the same time fulfil the demand for transferring goods.

Port Constructor is a MicroGame, wherein the player engages in missions each taking 15 to 20 minutes to play. Each mission starts with a short strategy and several action rounds. In Port Constructor participants develops and manages a port planning project. The aim is to optimise three equally important value drivers: people, planet and profit. On the basis of a baseline strategy, the participant chooses between a variety of functions to be placed or removed in the port area taking into account how neighbouring functions influence each other, positively or negatively. Target group for this serious game are students, as well as professionals to better understand how to balance trade-offs, assess long term impact of port development decisions and manage stakeholders.

The game design is built on both practical and theoretical knowledge and understanding from port developers, educators and scientists. By means of a digital game, the game developers have initially decoupled port development and management concepts from its context, thereby taking a conceptual perspective on port development and management. The second stage of development was to define archetypes of ports, basic port functions as well as provide an overview of port dilemmas.

With Port Constructor the developers aim to achieve the following learning objectives. First objective is for the participant to gain knowledge over decision processes in the context of port development and management. Secondly, the game aims to develop a better understanding of spatial occupation and spatial planning required to match supply and demand for space for port expansion. The third objective is for participants to develop better insight into the long(er) term consequences of port planning, development decisions, both for people, planet and profit. Ultimately, with this game the developers aim to stimulate a holistic, multidisciplinary thinking with (direct and indirect) stakeholders in relation to port and port-city development.