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Virtual to Real Change
Posted by Hsing Wei on 07-22-10Mirroring the constant evolution of entertainment games, socially conscious games are likewise experimenting with new techniques and platforms. A recent Adweek article highlights Barefoot Explorers, an iPhone game studio started in 2009 by a former Microsoft executive, as an example of a maturing group of games for change developers with ambitions for production quality and game play that does not sniff of chocolate covered broccoli. Barefoot Explorers’ first game, Panda Hero, is an eco-adventure game where kids save endangered pandas in the digital world and simultaneously support reforestation in the real world. Similar to games like freerice.com, three trees are planted (in partnership with non-profit Trees for the Future) each time a customer downloads the game. Since its release this past April, more than 20,000 trees have been planted. Aside from tying actions to downloads, there are also hints that virtual goods could be a successful bridge to investment in real world change. While not developed as social advocacy games, in just five days Facebook games like FarmVille, FishVille, Mafia Wars and Zynga Poker raised $1.5 million for Haitian earthquake relief by selling virtual goods within the games. What virtual to real change experiments are catching your eye?