The original Civilization IV rewards imperialism through scoring the glory of the empire. I reprogrammed the game to score the health and happiness of the citizens. By adapting John Broome's extended quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and responding to Derek Parfit's repugnant conclusions, I designed an ethical calculus that rewards restraint, diplomacy and art in Civilization IV. See the presentation and play the mod.

1. Ethan Kennerly
Interactive Media
School of Cinematic Arts
University of Southern California

2. Yes
No

3. Yes, I have played some
version of Civilization

4. Yes
No

5. Land
Population
Military power
Monuments

6. Emperor, minister,
governor, or a mayor?
Only a citizen?

7. But rules of our nation
will affect our quality of life

9. Civilization III
Kurt Squire

10. Ayiti: The Cost of Life

11. Health
Happiness
...

12. 2 hours in 2 minutes
It will be fast.
Are you ready?

14. Kenneth Arrow

16. Quality 100 90 ... 0
Healthy Sick Dead
Quality
100% Healthy
90% Trade 9 healthy years for 10 years
0% Dead
In use since 1970s (Gold and Fryback)

17. Health
Happiness
Research
Culture
…

18. Happiness index
Quality of Life index
Gross national happiness

19. John Broome, Weighing Lives, 2004

20. Attributes of a city
Health
Happiness
Research
Culture
...

21. Score =
(Health Quality × Health Value)
× (Happiness Quality × Happiness Value)
× (...)

22. Utilitarian ethics
Social computation

23. Summation

24. Quality 100 90 ... 0
Happy Sad Dead
Cities Small and happy Large and sad

25. Large, sad city: (90 × 9) = ?
= 90 Quality × 9 Life Years
Small, happy city: (100 × 1) = ?
= 100 Quality × 1 Life Years

26. Large and sad city: 810 QLY
= 90 Quality × 9 Life Years
Small and happy city: 100 QLY
= 100 Quality × 1 Life Years

27. Derek Parfit

28. Average of the living

29. Large and sad city:
= 90 Quality Years / 9 Lives
Small and happy city:
= 100 Quality Years / 1 Lives

30. Large and sad: 10 QY/L
= 90 Quality Years / 9 Lives

Small and happy: 100 QY/L
= 100 Quality Years / 1 Lives

31.  But what if someone dies?

32. Sad city dies in war:
= (100 + 0) Quality Years
/ (1 + 0) Lives
Sad city lives in peace:
= (100 + 810) Quality Years
/ (1 + 9) Lives

33. Sad city dies: 100 QY/L
(100 + 0) Quality Years
/ (1 + 0) Lives
Sad city lives: 91 QY/L
(100 + 810) Quality Years
/ (1 + 9) Lives

34.  Derek Parfit

35. Average of living and dead

36. Go to war, and sad city dies:
(100 + 0) Quality Years
/ (1 + 9) Lives
Keep peace, and sad city lives:
(100 + 810) Quality Years
/ (1 + 9) Lives

37. Sad city dies: 10 QY/L
(100 + 0) Quality Years
/ (1 + 9) Lives
Sad city lives: 91 QY/L
(100 + 810) Quality Years
/ (1 + 9) Lives

38. Large and sad city:
= 90 Quality Years
/ 9 Lives
Small and happy city:
= 100 Quality Years
/ 1 Lives

39. Large and sad: 10 QY/L
= 90 Quality Years
/ 9 Lives
Small and happy: 100 QY/L
= 100 Quality Years
/ 1 Lives

41. Collaborate to deploy in classroom
Compute quality of life for animals
Playtest multiplayer
Collaborate to modify artificial intelligence

42. Ethics: Rob Bass
Design: Peter Brinson
Social computation: Anonymous reviewers
Presentation: Andreas Witzel,
participants of "Logic and the Simulation
of Interaction and Reasoning 2"

43. Ethan Kennerly
kennerly@finegamedesign.com
To play the demo
ask me today, or visit:
http://finegamedesign.com/qualityoflife