Serendipity and role-playing game in the Bolivian Altiplano: the Sumak Kawsay game to support local development reflection

We propose a methodology for the co-design of role-playing games based on the analysis of surprises, which refers to the concept of serendipity. Our objective is to understand to what extent the analysis of surprises in a role-playing game workshop reveals key mechanisms sometimes difficult to tackle by researchers-designers. Based on bibliography references, expert interviews about the socio-ecological context and participatory observations, we pre-designed a first version of a game that we modified and co-designed in participatory workshops in two communities of the central Altiplano in Bolivia. We distinguish 3 types of surprises and different facilitator's behaviors in response to these surprises. While the first two types of surprises help to improve the game in the co-design process, the third type is more related to the socio-economic context. It reveals the importance of the diversification of activities in addition to the sole agricultural income and the dynamics of the population decline of rural communities. We discuss the conditions to facilitate the occurrence of surprises: 1) the design of the game must allow the players freedom to modify and encourage acceptance as a model of their socio-ecosystem, 2) the facilitator must adopt a posture prepared to welcome them, and 3) the development of a climate of trust to free up speech. Finally, the analysis of surprises during the appropriation of the game and its intention by the players highlighted the rural exodus experienced by the Andean countryside, as well as the attachment of the inhabitants and migrants to the community.