NPR talks "Games for Change" conference

by Christopher Grant { Jun 28th 2006 at 1:25PM }

NPR's Marketplace introduced the segment saying, "They're often accused of wasting your time or promoting violence but a conference in New York City this week wants games to be known for something more." The ongoing Games For Change conference is part of the larger Serious Games initiative, but is focused specifically on using games to encourage social change.

NPR profiled three of the games on display at the conference, including:

Peace Maker - "a one-player game in which the player can choose to take the role of either the Israeli Prime Minister or the Palestinian President. The player must react to in-game events, from diplomatic negotiations to military attacks, and interact with eight other political leaders and social groups in order to establish a stable resolution to the conflict before his or her term in office ends."
A Force More Powerful - "simulates nonviolent struggles to win freedom and secure human rights against dictators, occupiers, colonizers, and corrupt regimes, as well as campaigns for political and human rights for minorities and women. The game models real-world experience, allowing players to devise strategies, apply tactics and see the results."
Darfur is Dying - MTV's "narrative-based simulation where the user, from the perspective of a displaced Darfurian, negotiates forces that threaten the survival of his or her refugee camp. It offers a faint glimpse of what it's like for the more than 2.5 million who have been internally displaced by the crisis in Sudan.

A far cry from the hysteria-prone coverage the mainstream media typically adheres to and great exposure for a group of gamers working to not only foster social change, but to evolve the educational potential for video games. Follow coverage of the conference by monitoring the 06-G4C del.icio.us tag.

Tags: Games for Change, GamesForChange, NPR, Radio, Serious, Serious Games, SeriousGames

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Grant @ Jun 28th 2006 1:35PM

Is it just me or is making/playing a video game based on the ongoing genocide in Darfur a bit bizarre and callous, no matter what the intent?

DG @ Jun 28th 2006 1:43PM

FYI: Marketplace is a production of American Public Media, and was formerly produced by Public Radio International. Neither of those two non-profit organizations are NPR.

WamBam @ Jun 28th 2006 1:56PM

I don't know, Grant. I think it's hard to comprehend "genocide" and "game" in the same context, especially since game seems to have a light, fun meaning. But if Darfur is Dying is meant to educate and enlighten people to what's going on in Darfur, then perhaps it's worthwhile.

Many people still classify video games as something akin to toys in which they are seen as a form of entertainment meant to induce fun in the user. I feel that video games are only taken seriously as a business, because it's a billion dollar industry and as yet is accepted as either a form of art or something that is at least capable being serious or reflective of serious issues in contempary society. Movies can be entertainment but they can also be very serious and film is taken as form of art that can transmit serious issues and ideas.

Maybe these games and titles like them will help people reconsider what they believe games to be capable of.

Rayonic @ Jun 28th 2006 2:59PM

"A Force More Powerful"? You want to know what an actual, ruthless dictator does to peaceful protesters? Murder, rape, torture, endless prison, and terrorize any relatives he can get his hands on. I wonder if the game realistically depicts that.

And "Peace Maker" sounds like a whitewash. The PLO president and the Israeli prime minister do not have the same set of goals. (To say the very least.)

Hell, it depicts Hamas as a small subset of the populace, but it is now the majority party in control of the government.

Basically, these games seem like half-assed student essays made interactive.

gh0st @ Jun 28th 2006 5:23PM

Maybe Rayonic is an armchair intellectual, or just has to p!$$ on anything he reads. Not sure which, but the net result is not very sensible.

Force - Was there a point here? First, they don't have to "depict[s]" anything. Ala: Turn 3 - you lose 25 supporters due to military incursion and retribution in Walawala Village. And while your musings may keep you occupied for hours at a time, they do not merit a valid point. Heck, you didn't even throw out an opinion.

Peace - Here is where my armchair intellectual hypothesis originated. Regardless of whether Hamas is the ruling party or not, that does not change what they are, which seems closely captured in the blurb about the game. You do know that the Baath party was a significant minority of the Iraq population, right?

And, why would the goals of the different factions matter? Well, other than your very thinly veiled agenda behind posting, that is. The goal of the game is to achieve peace. Regardless of the what the mush sloshing around in your gourd whispers to you, both sides would like to have no conflict in their region. Next time, just come out and put the prejudice on the table. You will seem equally as ignorant, but the root will garner you more understanding.

We definately need more games like this. I don't see them out selling the next GTA or Halo, but stuff like this gives kids an oppertunity to learn without being bored to death. My concern would be that the activists get too much control. At the end of the day, it has to be a good game. Yes, you are selling a message, but if noone buys it, what good have you done? If these are quality games, this is a fantastic initiative.