Crowd and Command
A game for two players. One student plays the police; the other plays the protesters.
Your role
…
How to play
- Pair with a student who has the other role. If both have the same role, one of you selects “Switch role”.
- Each round describes a situation and its possible outcomes. Choose without talking.
- Show each other your screens, then select “Reveal”. In Part 2, the protester chooses first and the police player responds.
- Each outcome is ranked for each side as Best, Good, Bad or Worst. The ranks for your side are highlighted.
Ranks for each side:
BestGoodBadWorst
The ranks are illustrative. They show how the game works; they are not measurements.
Words you will need
Player: one side in the game, the protesters or the police.
Strategy: a choice available to a side, such as a peaceful march or a crackdown.
Payoff: the rank of an outcome for a side: Best, Good, Bad or Worst.
Best reply: the choice that gives a side the higher rank, given the other side’s choice.
Equilibrium: a pair of choices in which neither side can obtain a higher rank by changing only its own choice.
Part 1. Both sides choose at the same time
The protesters choose a peaceful march or disruptive action. The police choose to facilitate the protest or to crack down. Neither side knows the other’s choice.
Part 2. The protesters move first
The protesters choose first and show their screen. The police player sees the move and then responds. Each outcome also states how the public reacts.