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Games for Change (G4C) provides support, visibility and shared resources to organizations and individuals using digital games for social change. This is the primary community of practice for those interested in making digital games about the most pressing issues of our day, from poverty to race and the environment. We are the social change/social issues branch of the Serious Games Initiative.

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Controversy Over Super Columbine Massacre Role Playing Game

Posted by Hsing Wei on 01-29-07

Are there limits to what social issues video games can/should explore? 

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“Video Game Tests the Limits. The Limits Win” in this Sunday’s New York Times provides a good summary of the recent controversy over the pulling of Super Columbine Massacre Role Playing Game! from the Slamdance film festival.  While the article largely framed the controversy as highlighting that video games are still not considered a legitimate art form, it also touched on one of the core challenges of games for change - how to create meaningful games on difficult issues.  While supporters concentrate on the unique potential of video games to allow people to explore problems, they must also address the public opinion that also exists that believes games do not help, but rather trivialize, those important issues.