Each module of a simulation game consists of three parts: an introduction to the chosen subject, the actual game and the evaluation.

Before the game, the participants work to acquire the necessary knowledge about the basic constellation of the chosen conflict or negotiation situation. Each group also receives information tailored to their particular situation, giving them insight into their perspective on the negotiations, their interests, their domestic constraints as well as their potential allies. Participants can also be involved in the preparation of the game, through individual research or compiling information about the individual roles.

In longer seminars, participants are often encouraged to become involved in the preparation of the game. This may entail individual research or compiling information about the individual roles.

For the actual simulation game, there are two possible versions, of which hybrid forms can also be produced. In a purely negotiation-based game, negotiations are simulated which may or may not lead to a final agreement. We feel it is crucial that on the fringe of official negotiations, participants also engage in informal talks. In an action-oriented game, protagonists can have a direct impact on the course of events through open or hidden actions.

The beginning of each game consists of each group establishing their position and goals. As with real negotiating parties, power is unevenly distributed among the players according to the chosen situation: the larger the political and economic weight of a negotiating party, the bigger their ability to impose their own terms upon an agreement with the other groups. A rigid time frame is a further parameter intended for participants, as negotiations in reality tend to take place under considerable time pressure.

After the game, the results are evaluated and linked to the initially acquired information. The groups compare their achievements with their initial goals, evaluate the course of the game and try to develop options for the conflict’s solution “in the real world“. The participants are also urged to develop a critical view of their own actions.