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Climate Challenge
Game URL: www.bbc.co.uk/sn/hottopics/climatechange/climate_challenge/
Developer: Red Redemption Ltd.
Non-Profit:
Release Date: 16th January 2007
Project Lead: Gobion Rowlands
Funding Sources: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
Sponsors/In-kind donations: University of Oxford
Budget:
Overall: 150,000
Secured: 150,000
Brief Description
Climate Challenge is a single-player game about climate change, playable for free on the BBC website. It is a sandbox-style strategy game based on real climate change data, where the player can try out different approaches, learn about the issues and have fun at the same time.
Full Description
Climate Challenge is a single-player game about climate change, playable for free on the BBC website, aimed at young professionals aged 25-35. The game is a sandbox-style strategy game based on real climate change data, where the player can try out different approaches for themselves, learn about the issues and have fun at the same time. It was designed and developed by Red Redemption Ltd, with scientific advice provided by Oxford University Centre for the Environment (OUCE) and a number of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scientists. The developers wanted to make a fun, challenging game, but a game that was also based on scientific facts. Climate Challenge uses the most commonly cited and accepted carbon dioxide emission forecasts, which are produced by the IPCC. In Climate Challenge, the player takes on the role of the President of Europe, choosing policies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from 2000 to 2100. The player has to balance emissions reductions with making sure there is enough electricity, water and food for the people, whilst also managing their spending and trying to remain popular with the electorate. The game was accompanied by scientific notes for further learning and was also used for ongoing scientific research into the effectiveness of computer games as a learning tool. In its first week of launch the game received an amazing 82,000 unique plays and the totals for the first six weeks were over 500,000 unique plays.
Target Audience: Young professionals, aged 25-35
Social Issues Addressed: environment, politics, Climate Change,
Purpose:
1. To create a sandbox-style environment, based on the real science, where the player can learn about the issues of climate change in a non-prescriptive way; 2. To give the player an understanding of the options and policies available to tackle climate change, from the national to the personal level; 3. To leave the player feeling more empowered to take action; 4. To leave them feeling more positive, viewing climate change as an opportunity, not just a threat.
Metrics:
How? Environmental Change & Management MSc Thesis studying effectiveness of the game in communicating climate change; user figures; Press & Internet coverage
What outcomes have been measured? 500,000 unique plays in first 5 weeks; Global press coverage (LA Times, Sunday Times, El Pais etc.); Response to surveys showed positive attitudinal change towards climate change.
Press Coverage:
http://www.red-redemption.com/press/ lists all the major articles that have features the Climate Challenge game.
Press Release URL: http://www.red-redemption.com/press-releases/
Public Contact Information
Name: Gobion Rowlands
Email: gobion@red-redemption.com
Press Contact Name: Gobion Rowlands
Press Contact Email: gobion@red-redemption.com
Game Tags: "climate change" BBC "Red Redemption" "Oxford University" "science-based game"
Where you can play this game: The game is available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/hottopics/climatechange/climate_challenge/ or http://www.red-redemption.com/climatechallenge It can be played for free over the Internet.
