Darfur is Dying – the video game
This past year MTV, the International Crisis Group and Reebok launched The Digital Activist Contest. Students designed video games that raised awareness and educated us about the genocide going on in Darfur. The wining game is featured at www.darfurisdying.com.
As I played this game, I felt like I may be experiencing some of the future of education, news, and activism. After a few minutes, I knew more about what was going on in Darfur. For a younger generation that already speaks the narrative language of gaming, this could be a very effective approach.
The questions that it raised for me are – would the students that are growing up now rather hear a teacher lecture about Darfur, or play a game like this and discuss it? Would they be more likely to read a news article, or play a game that their friends forwarded to them? Is there a potential negative side that this form of communication will present? Will this type of experience translate into action for those that play it?
Not only does this idea raise awareness for a worthy cause, I think ideas like this have the potential to really connect with the new values of participation, social activism, story and interactivity.
