Welcome to Shape-Factory

Shape Factory is an online organizational simulation which uses realistic dynamics of interdependent workgroups with a cooperative/competitive incentive structure. Shape Factory simulates collaborative business environment as an interdependent workplace where each individual worker has specialized skills to offer, but must also draw on the skills of others in order to complete projects.

Each Shape Factory session involves ten players with five different skills. The main objective of the game (for the player) is to make as much profit as possible. This can be done by filling “orders” (Orders are strings of shapes, e.g. circle- square- diamond -triangle would be a typical four-part order) or by selling specialty shapes at a premium to others. Player can fill orders by making all the required shapes. But can make more money by buying shapes more cheaply than making them so it is a good idea to buy what is needed and sell what others need.

In Shape Factory each player is an independent contractor working for a large company which produces various strings of shapes. Each player is identified by a distinctive color shape combination in the company e.g. Blue square. The shape is their ‘skill’, i.e. the commodity they can make cheaply; they can also make other parts but at a high cost. Each player is both a buyer and a seller.

Each round players’ orders contains a total of eight shapes. Players’ orders never include their own specialty shape, so players usually try to buy all eight shapes that they need from others. Each player can produce a maximum of six of their specialty shapes each round to sell to other players. Since each player wants to buy eight parts, but can only produce six each round, there is some scarcity and some social pressure in deciding who to sell shapes to.

As mentioned previously there are a total of five specialty shapes in the game, and for each specialty shape there are two players who can produce it at a low cost. For example, Blue Square has a counterpart, Orange, who also makes and sells squares (Only shapes are important in filling orders not the colors). Thus, players always have a choice of who they can develop buying and selling relationships.

Shape Factory’s web interface allows players to request, negotiate, and deliver shapes through its messaging system. Players can also send text messages to other players. The interface supports one-to-one bargaining on prices of shapes, but does not allow multi-player auctions.