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Many simulation games feature realistic mechanics that are highly representational (Adams 2014, p. 37) and closely recreate real activities or processes. Simulation games where the player keep artificial pets in their own environment (e.g. virtual aquarium) often feature abstract mechanics (Adams 2014, p. 37). The question was how players would experience an abstract simulation game where players keep artificial pets (fish), with realistic mechanics that are more representational. A simple game prototype was created based on existing games within the abstract life-simulation genre, which respondents playtested for 15 minutes. Data was collected through a short survey prior to each playtest, and semi-structured interviews after respondents had tested the artefact. Results indicated (among other things) that it was possible to translate many affordances of real aquariums and fish into mechanics. Whether they were perceived or not depended on the personality of the respondent, and did not have any correlation between knowledge about fish or gaming habits.

Forms of physical interaction have been restricted during the covid-19 pandemic, which has forced civil society organizations (CSO:s), with the aim to create and maintain participation and engagement for their cause, to move activities aimed to create engagement to a digital space. This thesis aims to investigate which lessons these organizations bring with them from the period based on perceived possibilities and limitations with creating engagement in a digital space. Departing from affordance theory and theory of social capital, this paper tries to gain understanding for the relationship between the organizations’ social context and the technological attributes to further understand which implications it has for virtual engagement’s three communicative components: network ties, content, and interaction. With case study research design, five semi structured interviews with employees from five Swedish CSO:s, working with sustainable and global development, were conducted to get an inside perspective of the challenges and possibilities during the period. Results show that even though digital media entails many possibilities in regards to reach beyond geographical borders and effective resource management, the organizations have learned that some communicative aspects of physical gatherings cannot be replaced. The biggest limitation mentioned in regards to digital media is the aspect of informal relationship building interaction which is imperative to create and maintain engagement. Global and sustainable development means an inherent incentive to use inclusive and sustainable solutions, but it is also important to understand which aspects the digital format cannot replace or facilitate if we move towards a future where restrictions may become part of everyday life.

The overpopulation of domestic animals has become an ongoing problem across the United States. Approximately 1.5 million animals are being euthanized in the United States every year. In fact, shelters euthanize about 23 % of the animals they take in. However, the euthanasia rate would be much greater without animal rescues, which are different than animal shelters. Animal rescues are unique from shelters because they are not government-funded, and they do not usually have a physical location. Because of these factors, animal rescues rely on volunteers to care for the animals they save and donors to fund their operations. Animal rescues heavily depend on social media to fulfill many of their needs, including fundraising and volunteer recruitment, which makes the nonprofits particularly vulnerable to failure without a social media following. This research combined a content analysis of animal rescues' Facebook posts with a survey of the rescues to determine which Facebook affordances and message frames animal rescues used online were positively related to online and offline success metrics. The content analysis focused on analyzing posts for message frames, and the survey provided information about annual success. The combination of a content analysis and a survey uncovered relationships between Facebook characteristics, online message frames, and offline success metrics.

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