In early October 2011, the Game Developer Conference Online (GDC Online) debuted a game called Passing the Ball to tackle the topic of online safety for children. Recently we spoke to Gregory Weir, the lead game designer on the project to learn how his design aesthetics helped create the experience of the game. But to learn… Read more »

By Josh Spiro Nothing motivates you to arrive on time like the flush of embarrassment over missing an important event. Just ask Nicholas Kristof. As the first blogger for The New York Times’ website, back in 2003, he played an important role in yanking the Gray Lady into the world of Web 2.0. Yet he… Read more »

The face of education is changing (or so we hope!). While kids still learn from text books and instructors, organizations and individuals are working hard to create a paradigm shift. Initiatives like Khan Academy or Skillshare are redefining how and when we choose to learn. But a greater challenge in learning still comes from understanding and utilizing… Read more »

Daesung-dong village entrance   For half a century Korea’s Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) has been a dividing line that affects millions of people on the peninsula. Explaining its importance to new generations is challenging. But imagine making a video game about it that is both complex and culturally sensitive. Suzanna Samstag Oh was up for the… Read more »

On December 8th through the 11th, Games for Change Latin America (English) will be hosting their first annual Latin America Festival (English)! This premiere event in São Paulo, Brazil will feature over 30 hours of content including lectures, presentations, roundtables, forums, workshops and demonstrations of Latin America’s most innovative games for change. This will be… Read more »

Two ambitious Facebook games from commercial companies were launched into public beta this week. What Food Force and WeTopia have in common is at the heart of the “games for change” movement: a desire to inspire direct action and real-world impact through engaging gameplay. Each follows a very different journey into the marketplace. From Konami… Read more »

For centuries, the threat of what might happen to a child the moment they leave their home was a concern for parents and guardians. As outdoor safety became better understood over the generations, children grew up to be caregivers and passed on what they learned in their youth to the children they now care for… Read more »

[ This position is no longer available. Thank you to everyone who applied. ] Screen shot from Collapsus by submarine channel The field of games for social impact is experiencing some incredible growth. From empowering women and girls around the world to using the power of games to help create a positive effect on our… Read more »

At our 8th Annual Games for Change Festival (June 20-22), former US Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Al Gore presented a keynote speech on how games could convey important messages around social issues, including the environment, which stands at the core of his public work. He boldly proclaimed that “games have truly arrived as a… Read more »

Here’s part two of our Half the Sky project update. (You can read part one here) Back in May, we covered our discovery trip to India with Charles Hunter of Mudlark, Alan Gershenfeld of E-Line Media and the local team of ZMQ. This was the first step in creating a series of mobile games for… Read more »