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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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Playing Journalist: A Game for Amnesty International

Posted by Hsing Wei on 06-11-08

Coinciding with the Beijing Olympic Games, a team of developers collaborated with Amnesty International Canada to create Pictures for Truth.

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Players become foreign journalists slash detectives in China.  While attempting to save their best friend (a Chinese human rights defender) through photographs and interviews the players collect information to publish articles mobilizing against human rights violations.  The social message is very directed, however the black and white graphic style and point of view navigation are visually appealing.  Some more commentary at Water Cooler Games.


Pictures for Truth was developed in 9 month based on the efforts of a core group of 7 volunteers (programmers, 2D/3D artists, and musician).  The game is currently available online (requires downloading and is not mac compatible).  Programmed with Microsoft XNA, the team hopes for eventual distribution on Xbox Live.