Well, not really an alternative reality around here, just a waiting game - but this could be an interesting and possibly helpful exercise:
World Without Oil launches 30th April. Will you be ready? This is an ARG (Alternate Reality Game) by genius Jane McGonigal who wants to use games to help solve real world problems.
A quote from the above-linked article:
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'W')orld Without Oil is McGonigal's bold step forward; it's a game designed for the public good, rather than for pure entertainment or subtle marketing. The tagline declares its intentions to be a public service announcement about the world's dangerous dependence on oil: "Play it — before you live it." McGonigal isn't a fanatic on the subject of oil addiction, although, like many people, she thinks an oil crisis is a looming possibility. Letting gamers role-play the scenario now, she says, could result in something like a citizen's manual on how to respond to the crisis.



