In fact, it wouldn’t have to be just a game. It could create real awareness, drive real policy and make real change. SimCity lets players design their own city. This would be a MMPOG (massive multi-player online game) in which the players have to cooperate to make the world a better place. What happens to the world if you buy a hybrid and trade in your gas-guzzler? What if you replace your light bulbs with fluorescent? What if you install energy-saving appliances? What if everyone does? Imagine seeing the ACTUAL impact on the earth at the exact moment that it happens. Imagine how many people you could inspire to make change if they could actually see the difference.
Then I got another idea. Instead of getting email from Amnesty International to send a letter to a political prisoner, a request to sign a petition from the Humane Society to save the baby seals, or a plea to send a letter to your congressperson regarding a labor issue from MoveOn, what if it happened in the game? On a world map are issues, hotspots and things going on in the world. When you roll over or click, you get an alert. A monk has just been taken prisoner in China. He spoke out again the government and now he’s in jail. Send a letter! Maybe you pay a dollar and one is sent for you, or you could donate $10. Organize a rally to get other players interested in your cause.
In real-time you monitor the progress. Photos, articles and updates are posted, as they are available. The amount of money being donated and letters sent are displayed, again, in real-time. All over the world, things are happening that you can be a part of. How often have you written a check to an organization, sent it off and then what? Do you know where that money went? What cause it went towards? Do you know the outcome of that cause? This way, we all get to share in the struggle; we get to see our efforts count.
And then this weekend I saw a headline in the paper: “Earth program helps non-profits raise money.” Google Earth Outreach is the formal launch of a program that allows non-profits to utilize Google Earth to raise awareness by letting users visualize issues on a world map. One example mentioned is a Brazilian Indian tribe that wants to stop loggers and miners from deforesting the jungle to dig for gold.
I downloaded Google Earth and so far, it’s not that exciting. It has a long way to go. It’s mostly just a portal to, what else, Google. Another way to find links and images. I've received two form letters that I wasn’t qualified to work there (someone told me they get 2,500 resumes a week as it is, after all, the best company in America to work for) but I have my finger on the pulse and my vision is still way better than what they’ve got going on!
2 comments:
Sucks about the job, I got turned down three times from my alma mater no less.
On the subject of Google capabilities have you checked out "Street View" yet? You can see 360 degree street level views of 5 major cities. It's pretty trippy.
As far as your virutal reality game - I would play that game, but it neat if the game also showed how people contribute to atrocities. Like "You just purchased a shirt made in a sweatshop." Something like that.
Ooooh, like a bodycount wristwatch! As you go about your day, it keeps track of the devastation you're wreaking on the planet and gives suggestions on turning it around.
Post a Comment