Evoke ARG Looks To Change The World
The World Bank Institute and alternate reality game designer Jane McGonigal have unveiled Evoke, a new ARG seeking to empower young people around the world, especially those in Africa, to come up with creative solutions for real world problems like food security, energy, disaster relief, poverty, education, global conflict, water access, disease, hunger, and more.
McGonigal says the goal for the game is to "build up our global capacity to change the world in as short a time as possible, for as many people as possible". She explains Evoke in an interview with Worldchanging:
"Every week for 10 weeks (starting March 3), there’s going to be a new [graphic novel] episode about social innovators working out of Africa. They travel around the world solving epic crises, like food shortages or power outages in major cities.Players take on three missions each week. They learn—basically, filling their brain with information about the topic. They act—doing something in real life to implement what they’ve learned. And they imagine. What could they do about this problem today if they had a team, money, and resources? That’s what social innovation is all about—scaling up local solutions to make big, sustainable solutions that can spread."
In the first week, for example, Evoke will present Episode 1: Social Innovation, a scenario in which Tokyo suffers a major famine ten years from now. As part of the game, players will learn about food security issues and must do something in real life to increase the food security of at least one person in their life.
During Evoke's 10 episodes, experts from World Bank Institute and other organizations will watch, mentor, and give feedback. Players that complete the ten challenges will be recognized as a "Certified World Bank Institute Social Innovator – Class of 2010", while top players will receive online mentorships with social innovators and business leaders, as well as scholarships to share their vision at an Evoke Summit in Washington D.C.
Though the ARG designer says that the game's ideal audience is young people in Africa, Evoke is open and free to play for anyone. The World Bank Institute is working with universities in the country to bring the game to classrooms. McGonical believes that if they could get help 50 students in Africa through the game with a social enterprise ready to pitch, Evoke would be a "huge win."
You can learn more about Evoke and how to play at its official web site.
[Via Superpunch]
Comments
Reminds me of "Superstruct" and "World Without Oil". Alternate reality games (this reality games?) that target real-world problems represent a rather fascinating trend. As an attempt to harness people's solitaire-hours, it's certainly bolder than the ESP Game and the like.
Posted by: L33tminion | February 2, 2010 8:35 PM
good review. i like this game. i hope i can play this Evoke soon
Posted by: hentai stream | February 3, 2010 11:27 PM
Im not a gamer. My son is a gamer. The graphics are boring, the pace is too slow and it is not what it could be.
Worst of all- the 'fixes' are programmed in. This keeps the dogmatism of many green activist safe. If it allowed for real thinking outside the box (yea, I hate that term too.) it would be more worthwhile. I know there are limits to the flexability to the game and to the range of responses possible.
A heavy emphasis on local conditions and navigating new cultures and norms. This is a worldwide problem. Im glad to see it's in the game.
Perhaps there could be a moderated forum where participants could grade ideas that were out of the expected parameters. This would also add to online discussion of what to do in real world situations- perhaps even insights and information on how people are dealing with these things in the real world right now.
If this is aimed towards africa- why do they think that less robust visuals and interactives are acceptable. Folks who will be exposed to this video game will surely be exposed to Halo, and Call of Duty which are more engaging. Guess which one they will prefer.
Posted by: mom | February 15, 2010 3:50 AM