Videogames can make a difference: Darfur is Dying

Written by Dan Zuccarelli

Wednesday, 12 July 2006 04:51

Generations before us have always used media to get out a message. Of hope, of change, of attitude. So why should games be any different? Games with a social or political message are starting to hit the mainstream, and while they won't be breaking any sales records, it's a good first step to being taken seriously as a platform for change. For the first time there's some real time and energy being put into these games, and it shows.

If anyone has any games they'd like included in this column, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

For our first segment I'm going to take a look at Darfur is Dying. If you haven't heard of it, it's a game that was designed by a group of students in southern California and is sponsored by Reebok and MTVu.

It aims to get the message out about the genocide in Darfur by having you the player take the role of an everyday citizen of Darfur. First, You'll need to travel away from camp to get water while being chased by Janjaweed militiamen. Then you need to maintain your camp, balancing water, food, and raids by the Janjaweed. What would be your standard run-of-the-mill flash game becomes something more, there's a message in there.

They don't bash you over the head with it, they incorporate it into the game. The game is meant to be playable, to be entertaining. And while you're playing, the ideas and realities of the situation in Darfur begin to come to light.

For example: When you start the game you choose a character to play as, they cover the gamut of gender and age. If you choose a male to forage for water, the game informs you that very rarely do men travel outside the camp for water, since they would be shot on sight by the militia. Women run the risk of being caught and raped, but not killed.

I thought I understood the situation in Darfur but I can tell you I learned some things playing this game. And if I didn't know much about the situation at all I think it would be a real eye-opener. Like a good protest song during vietman, I really believe that a game like this can make a difference, it can start the wheels of change in people.

The game is flash based and can be played for free, right in your browser. Click here to play.

What do YOU think? Can these games be effective? Use the comments section to let us know.

Comments (2) Add Comment

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written by Dork2099, July 12, 2006

This game looks very interesting. I'll have to try it out when I get home tonight. The concept of using games for something other than fleecing fanboys piques my interest.

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written by philippe, April 30, 2007

I am doing a research on this game, to check whether these initiatives can be effective in terms of Information tool. It sure is a good first step to reach a big target audience. If you dont know anything about Darfur, you can get a vague glimpse of what could be going on. However, please allow me to say this game itself is not enough to inform people. The game itself is merely a first step, to let you play it for some minutes and start reading the information presented on the site. THIS is what you need to know. You can more easily understand through playing a game, but there is the risk that the crisis in Darfur is reduced to a "nice game somewhere online". Despite it being a very good tool as a first introduction, more money and attention need to be drawn to those who send the message, or should send it, such as VN, politicians, governments and media.
A full explanation of my research would lead me too far, but in order to know whether this is a succesful, effective tool, there is much more to take into account. Unfortunately it's actually a pitty we need to talk about it, or make a website/game...if you get my point