Keep Cool (2016) – Board Game Guys

Keep Cool

Keep Cool is a board game created by Klaus Eisenack and Gerhard Petschel-Held of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and published by the German company Spieltrieb in November 2004. It is the first game on climate change that is readily available from a commercial publisher. The game can be classified as both a serious game and a global warming game. In Keep Cool, up to six players representing the world’s countries compete to balance their own economic interests and the world’s climate in a game of negotiation.

Why is Keep Cool Popular?

The goal of the game is to promote general knowledge on climate change and the understanding of difficulties and obstacles, and to make it available for a board game while still retaining the major elements and processes. The German Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMU) has included Keep Cool as part of its teaching materials, and activities related to Keep Cool have been awarded various prizes. The game has been used in multiple settings for interdisciplinary communication and education. Climate-themed board games like Keep Cool are leading to more understanding and action on climate change.

Game Components of Keep Cool

Number of players: 3 to 6

Countries represented: USA & Partners, Europe, Tiger Countries, Developing Countries, Former Soviet Union, OPEC (depending on the number of players)

Game pieces: Factories (black and green), protection tokens, greenhouse cards, secret target cards

Lobby groups: Oil industry, environmental groups

Disaster cards: Greenhouse cards that include disasters and beneficial events due to global warming

Carbometer: Measures the level of global warming

How To Setup Keep Cool

To set up the game, each player selects a group of countries based on the number of players. For example, with three players, the groups are USA & Partners, Europe, and Tiger Countries. Each country has a distinct starting position with different numbers of black (fossil energy) and green (renewable energy) factories. Players are also dealt secret target cards that outline their economic and environmental goals. The game board is prepared with the carbometer to track global warming levels.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Player turns: Start with drawing a greenhouse card, which can introduce disasters or beneficial events.

Economic and environmental targets: Players must balance their own economic interests with global climate protection.

Factory management: Players can build or destroy factories, influencing their economic and environmental targets.

Protection measures: Players can buy protection tokens to mitigate climate impacts.

Negotiation: Players must negotiate with each other to achieve their goals.

Secret targets: Players have secret targets that they must fulfill without revealing them to other players.

Global warming tracking: The carbometer tracks the level of global warming, affecting the severity of disasters.

Game end: The game ends when a player fulfills both their economic and secret targets, or when global warming exceeds a critical level, leading to a lose condition for all players.

Player Experience

Playing **Keep Cool** involves a dynamic interplay between economic growth and environmental protection. Players must navigate the challenges of climate change, such as droughts and floods, while managing their country’s economic interests. The game fosters negotiation and strategic thinking, making it engaging for players interested in both economics and environmental issues. The random events from greenhouse cards add an element of unpredictability, simulating the real-world complexities of climate politics.

Pros

Educational value: Promotes understanding of climate change and international climate politics.

Engaging gameplay: Combines strategy, negotiation, and random events to keep players engaged.

Replayability: The game’s random elements and multiple secret targets ensure different experiences each time.

Multiplayer interaction: Encourages cooperation and competition among players.

Real-world relevance: Simulates real-world climate challenges and the need for international cooperation.

Cons

Complexity: The game involves several mechanics and rules, which can be overwhelming for new players.

Length: Games can last one to two hours, which might be too long for some players.

Limited accessibility: Originally designed for a German-speaking audience, though it is bilingual (German/English).

Personal Thoughts on Keep Cool

**Keep Cool** is ideal for those interested in climate politics, economics, and strategic board games. It is particularly suitable for educational settings, such as schools and universities, as well as for families and gaming groups looking to engage with a serious yet entertaining game. The game’s ability to facilitate discussions about conflicts of interest in climate politics makes it a valuable tool for promoting awareness and understanding of global environmental issues.

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