Games as Simulations

The games BoF in DC was great, but it got me wondering if some of the tools that are being built here are being too narrowly marketed. Specifically, the room exploration games that are being done could be billed as "simulations". Basically you're providing a way for a non-admin, non-coder to set up an environment and let users wander about in it. That's a powerful tool that could also be useful for:

• Virtual real estate tours - set up a house where each room is a node with a picture and a description, and the visitor explores it.
• "Knowledge Spaces" - put articles on topics related to each other "next to" each other.
• Campus tours - similar to real estate, but maybe with more community aspects?
• Virtual museums
• Event maps

None of this stops the modules for working for games, but it might help attract some more development to the area. It's unfortunate that a lot of people neglect games as when they're focused on "serious business", even though games are where a lot of hard problems get solved.