Serious Games: The new breed. | Forums

[Catapharact]

Finally! Orginizations are giving games the credit for being the perfect medium towards the younger generation.

Though... why do I get the feeling this is gonna turn into another "America's Army" type recruting thing.


Serious Games: A new breed of video game is spreading the word about important global issues.

by World Vision

Source: http://lifestyle.sympatico.msn.ca/Serious+Games/Home/Co...tle=&detect=&abc=abc

Video games are just mindless fun, right? While this may be the perception of many, there is a movement afoot that could change this view.

A new genre of video game, sometimes called "serious games" or "games for change," is a fascinating new development in the industry.

You won't find any cute, animated characters or voyages across space and time in a typical serious game. Instead, players are immersed in a realistic world, faced with all-too-real issues. Using familiar gaming concepts, these video games delve into challenging and controversial social-justice topics.

The following three games exemplify this new movement.

Global Conflicts: Palestine
Taking on the role of a young journalist, players of this game are exposed to social complexities as they move around Jerusalem. Solving conflicts along the way, gamers have the opportunity to take one of three viewpoints: pro-Palestinian, pro-Israeli or a balanced viewpoint.

Darfur is Dying
Living in and around a refugee camp in Sudan, players must avoid armed militia as they collect water and food while managing their basic needs within the camp. A staggering 800,000 people played this game in the five months after its 2006 release by MTV Networks.

Food Force
This game was developed in 2005 and is considered one of the granddaddies of the serious-game genre. In the game, players join a team of UN experts that deal with food shortage and related issues on the fictional island of Sheylan. Created by the United Nations World Food Programme, the game offers ways to learn about the fight for food sufficiency.

Making a Difference
Some have criticized these games, contending that they oversimplify complex issues and mask harsh realities faced by those involved. While these claims hold a grain of truth, it's hard to argue with the fact that the games do have an impact. Players, mostly young and receptive teens, are taking action.

MTV Networks reports that thousands of players have raised awareness of the situation in Sudan by sending Darfur is Dying to their friends. Other players have become advocates, pressuring politicians for changes in government policies.

So while lives are not being saved directly, video games can make a difference. These serious games, which create awareness and inspire action, are contributing to a solution to at least some of the world's problems.

[Catapharact]

Finally! Orginizations are giving games the credit for being the perfect medium towards the younger generation.

Though... why do I get the feeling this is gonna turn into another "America's Army" type recruting thing.


Serious Games: A new breed of video game is spreading the word about important global issues.

by World Vision

Source: http://lifestyle.sympatico.msn.ca/Serious+Games/Home/Co...tle=&detect=&abc=abc

Video games are just mindless fun, right? While this may be the perception of many, there is a movement afoot that could change this view.

A new genre of video game, sometimes called "serious games" or "games for change," is a fascinating new development in the industry.

You won't find any cute, animated characters or voyages across space and time in a typical serious game. Instead, players are immersed in a realistic world, faced with all-too-real issues. Using familiar gaming concepts, these video games delve into challenging and controversial social-justice topics.

The following three games exemplify this new movement.

Global Conflicts: Palestine
Taking on the role of a young journalist, players of this game are exposed to social complexities as they move around Jerusalem. Solving conflicts along the way, gamers have the opportunity to take one of three viewpoints: pro-Palestinian, pro-Israeli or a balanced viewpoint.

Darfur is Dying
Living in and around a refugee camp in Sudan, players must avoid armed militia as they collect water and food while managing their basic needs within the camp. A staggering 800,000 people played this game in the five months after its 2006 release by MTV Networks.

Food Force
This game was developed in 2005 and is considered one of the granddaddies of the serious-game genre. In the game, players join a team of UN experts that deal with food shortage and related issues on the fictional island of Sheylan. Created by the United Nations World Food Programme, the game offers ways to learn about the fight for food sufficiency.

Making a Difference
Some have criticized these games, contending that they oversimplify complex issues and mask harsh realities faced by those involved. While these claims hold a grain of truth, it's hard to argue with the fact that the games do have an impact. Players, mostly young and receptive teens, are taking action.

MTV Networks reports that thousands of players have raised awareness of the situation in Sudan by sending Darfur is Dying to their friends. Other players have become advocates, pressuring politicians for changes in government policies.

So while lives are not being saved directly, video games can make a difference. These serious games, which create awareness and inspire action, are contributing to a solution to at least some of the world's problems.

[pop_sot]

Indeed a Great Information. ANd I like the Idea of Having Serious Games. It would be Immersive.

[Robert_1989]

Hmm... an interesting idea, but I'm afraid I won't play them.

When reading a news paper, watching the news on TeeVee, getting back my test week notes and seeing 'Hot topix' on the internet, you already have so much sadness and destruction... I don't think that when I play a game, which I usually do only for fun, just to get away from all the sadness a little, I would want even more of that.
Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it's a great way to learn something about those specific war zones, but I don't think I could be arsed to play it. All the 'educational' games I've played through the years were as interesting as watching ice melt, and I don't think there'd be much to keep one's interest in this type of game!

[yavanna_1986]

All these games sound like FPS' based on reality. And I don't like 'em.
I rather play a game with dragons, dungeons, princes/robots... I love fantasy. I play games to escape reality... so no... I don't think I'd ever play one of these games. But maybe some people will be interested.

[Sandwarrior1990]

Yeah, sounds like it could take off a bit, but I wouldn't do it

like Roxy said, I play games to escape reality
not to do stuff that I could do in real life, like tennis games..

sure it might help for training, but I think it'll just be that, not much fun or adventure involved, which is my (and a lot of people's) incentive for games

[Catapharact]

Well its different strokes for different folks (and no Rox, they are not FPS.)

The point of the games aren't to show UN empowerment or Leftist views but rahter shead light on an issues that get usually get overlooked without second thoughts.

I mean again taking America's Army into context; the game's purpose may have been recruitment but players come into the army thinking its all gonna be fun and games only to realize the harsh reality of facing combat that goes beyond the word "conventional." PTSD has been quite an issue for the American Army lately because many of their recruits just couldn't handle the pressure.

Not saying that the army shouldn't exist offcourse. They had every right to release that game since it sheads light on their POV.

And like a book, that how I see games. Yes some of their content can be preachy but its up to you to choose what you want to play and what you don't .

[yavanna_1986]

FPS/RPG/Adventure/Action... still based too much on reality. I for one stopped watching the news.
And as I said before, I have nothing against them. Everyone is free to play whatever he/she wants.
I just don't know if most players will rather play a game that is so similar to reality rather than playing some fantasy game that helps them escape from it. Plus, many people will just play them cause they are... games... or at least that's what I think. I doubt that some kids will think too much about what's happening on the screen. They will just want to shoot everything down.
Anyway... it's good for variety I guess. Everyone is free to choose what he/she wants.
And yes, I read books based on reality and I can trully said that some were so sad that I felt depressed many days after reading them.
In a game I want something that it's not real. That's why I call it a game.

[pop_sot]

If they would FPS then Definitly I won't be playing it. But It would be a 3rd Person Thingy Then Ofcourse I will give a try.

On the Other Hand, Rox points are also Valid

[likeitsme]

I think it's a good idea to include current world issues in games... after all, each generation puts in their form of media what's going on in their world.
Games can still be fun, that's what they're designed to do, but I think just to raise awareness of issues, this would be a good concept. The only thing I can't stand is the subjective point-of-view some games have, they don't really give the player a choice to make up his/her own mind.

But that's all I gotsa say!