Diffusion Simulation Game

Welcome to the Diffusion Simulation Game!    


Can you get school teachers to adopt an innovation?

Try strategies, and see what happens. How many adopters can you get?

Play the Diffusion Simulation Game as many times as you like, and learn what it takes! You need to think strategically and pay attention to what happens after each move. The first time you play could take an hour or more. Subsequent games take less time. Experienced players often take 30 minutes to complete a game.

Warning: Successful diffusion of innovations is challenging, requires persistence, and sometimes appropriate strategies do not work . The Diffusion Simulation Game emulates this complexity and uncertainty. It is based on empirical research, modeling typical success rates for diffusion activities under real-life conditions. If the DSG is too hard for you, try simpler versions with increasing levels of difficulty (requires Flash player, and will not work on iPhones or iPads). Also, you should read a brief summary of research (PDF) on diffusion strategies that work.

Start the Diffusion Simulation Game

Anyone can play. You can start a new game or continue your last game. This Web version does not require a Flash player, and should work on all devices with Web browsers, including iPhones and iPads.

Start the DSG

If this is your first time, you will need to register with your e-mail address and a password you supply. You will need to access your e-mail to complete the registration and sign in.

Learn more: brief summary of what 6,000+ research studies have found. This DSG debriefing summary may also be helpful on what it takes to be successful.

Information about DSG licenses.

The Diffusion Simulation Game was created in the Department of Instructional Systems Technology at Indiana University Bloomington. This Web version was led by Dr. Ted Frick with designers Barbara Ludwig, K. J. Kim and Rui Huang. The DSG is based on a board game originally developed by Dr. Michael Molenda and Patricia Young, and is based on research on diffusion and adoptions of innovations. Dr. Rod Myers has further developed the software to better align the DSG implementation with Diffusion of Innovations theory, and he has added a new feature so players can login with their e-mail addresses.