Using Video Games To Raise Issues of Peace and Justice
Can a computer game help people learn about situations in Dafur, understand possibilities in the Palestinian conflict or tackle food crisis in a region? Consider “Darfur Is Dying” , part of a growing but still nascent “games for change” movement within video games.
This movement is not about the alien fighters of “Halo or the sprawling fantasyland of “World of Warcraft” or the action-packed “Madden NFL.” It’s about “very serious subjects that are meant to be taken seriously,” said Susana Ruiz, 33, one of the game’s designers.
“Food Force”, a game about world hunger developed by the United Nations, served as a model for her, Ruiz explained.
Other may be familiar with “Videoactivsim” but I just discovered how developed the field is becoming. Given the possibilities of uploading your own videos to sites like YouTube there is another tool available to reach people who might not otherwise be reached.
This seems like an area at least some of the followers of Vincent and Louise should be involved in.
If you have experience with this approach to issue of peace and justice or would like to share with others who are interested please use the “leave a comment ” in the box at the end of this article.
If you are interested in exploring this world further by yourself follow some of the links below.
Wikipedia article on “Darfur is Dying”
“Reach and Teach” believes that connecting people in creative ways to issues of social justice supports development of a more just and peaceful world. We create and distribute learning products focused on civil rights, economic justice, global issues, and non-violence.
A Force More Powerful – the Game of Nonviolent Strategy is the first and only interactive teaching tool in the field of nonviolent conflict.
http://www.reachandteach.com/content/index.php?topic=teachins
“For a Few Pesos More” is a wondeful animated music video, and a perfect way to introduce people to the injustices of “Free Trade” and the alternative justice of “Fair Trade.” The video was created by the British Association for Fair Trade Shops (BAFTS) in coordination with Pangea (Rome, Italy) with co-financing from the European Union. A comprehensive teacher and facilitator guide is available for download. Check out the video first (high-speed connection recommended and Adobe Flash player required).
Tags: Advocacy
A comment from someone who just tried the game for kicks… “ok, i just have to say that I gave that game a try. All I did was play a game were I try to get water. It was enough to make me imagine how horrible it must be for something so unreal, to all of us in our safe homes, really is going on. That little feeling that goes off in your head when you get caught by the janjaweed, the same when you die in any other game kinda pulls the cover off of your eyes.” I’m not much into video games or Virtual Reality — but — do you find anything on raising awareness of Peace and Justice using Second Life? Second Life is a game/world where one is represented by an avatar… there are many education institutions buying into this for teaching purposes… there was even a political town meeting (for a real world race) held on Second Life. Just curious. Although not to the point of the post about using games to engage people in social justice issues, Second Life receives extensive comment in Don Tapscott’s new book WIKINOMICS. Second Life users create a virtual world of tier own making – a massively multiplayer online game (MMOG,for short), There are over 325,000 participants. “In fact, Second Life residents are far more than just “users” They take on virtual identities, act out fictious roles and activities, and even create virtual businesses that earn some 3,100 residents an average net profits of $20,000 a year. BUSINESS WEEK write Robert Hof aplty calls Second Life, ‘The unholy offspring of the movie MATRIX, the social networking site MySpace.com and the online marketplace eBay.”” p 1253 Comments
A comment from someone who just tried the game for kicks…
“ok, i just have to say that I gave that game a try. All I did was play a game were I try to get water. It was enough to make me imagine how horrible it must be for something so unreal, to all of us in our safe homes, really is going on. That little feeling that goes off in your head when you get caught by the janjaweed, the same when you die in any other game kinda pulls the cover off of your eyes.”
I’m not much into video games or Virtual Reality — but — do you find anything on raising awareness of Peace and Justice using Second Life?
Second Life is a game/world where one is represented by an avatar… there are many education institutions buying into this for teaching purposes… there was even a political town meeting (for a real world race) held on Second Life.
Just curious.
Although not to the point of the post about using games to engage people in social justice issues, Second Life receives extensive comment in Don Tapscott’s new book WIKINOMICS.
Second Life users create a virtual world of tier own making – a massively multiplayer online game (MMOG,for short), There are over 325,000 participants.
“In fact, Second Life residents are far more than just “users” They take on virtual identities, act out fictious roles and activities, and even create virtual businesses that earn some 3,100 residents an average net profits of $20,000 a year. BUSINESS WEEK write Robert Hof aplty calls Second Life, ‘The unholy offspring of the movie MATRIX, the social networking site MySpace.com and the online marketplace eBay.”” p 125