Author: Harry

About the Series This three-part series is inspired and informed by Limits to Growth and its subsequent editions. In it, we will explore systems dynamics questions, and use Machinations models to answer them. Our conclusions so far In our last Limits to Growth article, we used our model to understand why developed, post-industrial populations can decline: …

About the Series This three-part series is inspired and informed by Limits to Growth and its subsequent editions. In it, we will explore systems dynamics questions, and use Machinations models to answer them. In our first Limits to Growth article, we explored why the world’s population has grown. This time, we begin to explore what causes …

About the Series This three-part series is inspired and informed by Limits to Growth and its subsequent editions. In it, we will explore systems dynamics questions, and use Machinations models to answer them. This time, the question relates to the human population: What exactly has caused the surge in population over the last several centuries? The …

The Danger of Averages One of the core and intractable challenges when simulating an uncertain future is the problem of quantisation: when an all-or-nothing outcome is distilled into an average that distorts the true meaning of the data. Though it’s often easier to say “Investing in this asset has an average return of 110%”, most …

Understanding the Event and Showcasing the Problem Using Monte Carlo simulation powered by Machinations, I was able to determine that Merge Mansion’s original Lucky Catch event is unfinishable. Having played Merge Mansion quite avidly for over a year, I had plenty of opportunities to try out the seasonal Lucky Catch event, which is regarded rather …

In our previous article on how to manage complexity in Machinations, we delved into the effective strategy of segmenting models as a means to manage complex projects using Machinations. Expanded on that concept, this article aims to guide you through the critical decisions of what (and what not) to model and how the right design …

In the realm of game development and systems design, the ability to transform complex ideas into prototypes and simulations empowers designers to test their assumptions, refine design ideas, identify potential issues, and allows designers to assess the balance of game systems. Prototypes and simulations also serve as effective communication tools among the development team and …