Games for Change

Games for Change was founded by Benjamin Stokes, Suzanne Seggerman,{{Cite web|date=November 1, 2006|title=Gaming Wins New Advocates|url=http://www.thenonprofittimes.com/news-articles/gaming-wins-new-advocates/|access-date=September 18, 2015|publisher=The NonProfit Times}} and Barry Joseph in 2004.{{Cite web|date=May 1, 2016|last=Ferreira|first=Becky|title=How Games Are Changing the Museum Experience|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/how-games-are-changing-the-museum-experience/|access-date=September 16, 2020|publisher=Vice (magazine)}} The organization's first event was held in 2004 hosted by the New York Academy of Sciences and provided an opportunity for nonprofit organizations, foundations, and game developers to explore how digital games could be used to support impact causes.{{Cite web|last=Toppo|first=Greg|date=April 21, 2014|title=11 Years On, Games For Change festival Maturing|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/gaming/2014/04/21/games-for-change-festival/7973959/|access-date=September 16, 2020|publisher=USA Today}}

The Games for Change (G4C) Festival is an annual conference in New York City that highlights games, technology, and immersive experiences. It was also called the "Sundance for video games and immersive media" by Forbes in 2019.{{Cite web|last=Rowley|first=Melissa Jun|date=February 27, 2019|title=Meet The Woman Behind The Sundance For Video Games & Immersive Media|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/melissarowley/2019/02/27/meet-the-woman-behind-the-sundance-for-video-games-immersive-media/|access-date=November 20, 2019|website=Forbes|language=en}} Each year, the festival has over 100 sessions across four programming tracks: Games for Learning, Civics and Social Issues, Health and Wellness, and XR for Change.{{Cite web|last=Takahashi|first=Dean|date=June 18, 2020|title=Games for Change unveils sessions on mental health, diversity, and COVID-19|url=https://venturebeat.com/2020/06/18/games-for-change-unveils-sessions-that-tackle-issues-such-as-mental-health-diversity-and-covid-19/|access-date=September 3, 2020|publisher=VentureBeat}} Many notable speakers have participated in the Festival, including U.S. Vice President Al Gore, former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Sandra Day O'Connor,{{Cite web|last=Baker|first=Chris|date=April 21, 2014|title=Sandra Day O'Connor: Game Designer|url=https://www.wired.com/2008/06/justice-oconnor/|access-date=September 3, 2020|publisher=Wired (magazine)}} and president of the Entertainment Software Association Stan-Pierre Louis.{{Cite web|last=Takahashi|first=Dean|date=June 14, 2019|title=Games for Change: How to make the Game Industry more Diverse, Accessible, and Meaningful|url=https://venturebeat.com/2019/06/14/games-for-change-how-to-make-the-game-industry-more-diverse-accessible-and-meaningful/|access-date=September 3, 2020|publisher=VentureBeat}}

During the G4C Festival, the Games for Change Awards competition honors games that positively impact their communities and promote social good. While Games for Change organizes the awards program, winners are determined by peer review. Past winners include Life Is Strange,{{Cite web|last=Wawro|first=Alex|date=June 24, 2016|title=Life Is Strange leads this year's Games For Change award winners|url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/275799/Life_Is_Strange_leads_this_years_Games_For_Change_award_winners.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625135309/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/275799/Life_Is_Strange_leads_this_years_Games_For_Change_award_winners.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 25, 2016|access-date=September 3, 2020|publisher=Gamasutra}} Discovery Tour by Assassin's Creed: Ancient Egypt,{{Cite web|last=Handrahan|first=Matthew|date=June 19, 2019|title=Assassin's Creed Discovery Tour honoured at Games for Change Awards|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-06-19-assassins-creed-discovery-tour-honoured-at-games-for-change-awards|access-date=September 3, 2020|publisher=GamesIndustry.biz}} and the Nintendo Labo.{{Cite web|last=Doolan|first=Liam|date=June 20, 2019|title=Nintendo Labo Wins GOTY At The 2019 Games For Change Awards|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/06/nintendo_labo_wins_goty_at_the_2019_games_for_change_awards|access-date=September 3, 2020|publisher=Nintendo Life}} Recent winners include Sky: Children of the Light by thatgamecompany and Dreams by Media Molecule.{{Cite web|date=July 15, 2020|title=Games for Change lauds 'Dreams' and 'Sky: Children of the Light'|url=https://news.yahoo.com/games-change-lauds-dreams-sky-children-light-153142336.html|access-date=September 3, 2020|publisher=Yahoo! News}} In addition to its main categories (Best Gameplay, Most Innovative, Best Learning Game, Most Significant Impact, Best XR for Change Experience, Best Student Game), Games for Change also honors individuals with the Vanguard Award and organizations with the Industry Leadership Award.{{Cite web|last=Takahashi|first=Dean|date=July 8, 2020|title=Games for Change honors Gordon Bellamy of USC Games and Gay Gaming Professionals|url=https://venturebeat.com/2020/07/08/games-for-change-honors-gordon-bellamy-of-usc-games-and-gay-gaming-professionals/|access-date=September 3, 2020|publisher=VentureBeat}} In 2020, Games for Change honored Humble Bundle with the inaugural G4C Giving Award, recognizing its innovative fundraising methods that support charitable organizations.{{Cite web|last=Watson|first=Eric|date=July 8, 2020|title=Games for Change Awards G4C Giving Award to Humble Bundle|url=https://pixelkin.org/2020/07/08/games-for-change-awards-g4c-giving-award-to-humble-bundle/|access-date=September 16, 2020|publisher=pixelkin}}

In 2020, Games for Change announced that the annual Games for Change Festival would be virtual for the first time in its 17-year history. It was also free to attend, introducing global attendees to how games and immersive media are being used for good.{{Cite web|last=Takahashi|first=Dean|date=May 7, 2020|title=Games for Change will go virtual with trailblazing speakers July 14 to July 16|url=https://venturebeat.com/2020/05/07/games-for-change-will-go-virtual-with-trailblazing-speakers-july-14-to-july-16/|access-date=September 3, 2020|website=VentureBeat|language=en}}

The Games for Change Student Challenge is a STEM competition that teaches middle and high school students about game design and computer programming. The program provides a game design curriculum for students and encourages them to create a game based on a social impact theme. Since the competition takes place in various locations (New York City, Detroit, Atlanta, and Los Angeles), Games for Change partners with local organizations to support each community.{{Cite web|last=Chan|first=Stephanie|date=July 2, 2018|title=Games for Change Goes Beyond its Yearly Festival with Student Programs|url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/07/02/games-for-change-goes-beyond-its-yearly-festival-with-student-programs/|access-date=September 3, 2020|website=VentureBeat|language=en}} For example, in 2017, Games for Change partnered with the Annenberg Foundation and Riot Games to bring the program to over 600 Los Angeles students, encouraging them to create games about wildlife conservation, news literacy, and kindness.{{Cite web|last=Paresh|first=Dave|date=August 29, 2017|title=Riot Games and Annenberg Foundation bring classes on making video games to L.A. schools|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-games-for-change-la-tech-20170829-htmlstory.html|access-date=September 16, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en}}

The organization also curates a continuously growing body of "digital and non-digital games that engage contemporary social issues in a meaningful way".{{Cite web|title=Games For Change Games|url=http://www.gamesforchange.org/games/|access-date=April 12, 2018|website=www.gamesforchange.org|language=en-US}}

The video game Sweatshop is an example of a past digital game curated by the Games for Change organization. Launched in 2011 by Littleloud, it is a strategy game about offshore clothing manufacturing.{{Cite web|title=Games For Change Sweatshop|url=http://www.gamesforchange.org/game/sweatshop/|access-date=April 12, 2018|website=www.gamesforchange.org|language=en-US}} The player plays the role of a factory manager responsible for hiring workers, completing store orders, and meeting the demands of clients while trying to balance ethical decisions with rising demands. The game has 30 levels that increase in difficulty and complexity, and introduce new worker types and real-world sweatshop problems such as fires, unions and the lack of toilets that add authenticity to the game mechanics.{{Cite web|title=Sweatshop - Littleloud|url=http://littleloud.com/work/sweatshop/|access-date=April 12, 2018|website=littleloud.com}} The game utilizes the mechanics of tower defense, which have been used in many entertainment games such as Plants vs. Zombies. In Sweatshop, the clothing materials on the conveyor belt can be likened to “enemies”, and the factory workers who turn the materials into finished product can be seen as the defending “troops”. The use of tower defense mechanics allows the player to strategize how they will meet client demands in each level. The player must choose either to keep the workers safe and satisfied or sacrifice their well-being for factory efficiency, and because of these difficult decisions the game has been known for its ability to evoke guilt in players. Many players have reported their struggle to keep workers safe when trying to win more difficult levels.{{Cite web|title=Human Dignity and the Bottom Line: Sweatshop|url=http://gamechurch.com/human-dignity-and-the-bottom-line-sweatshop/|access-date=April 12, 2018|website=gamechurch.com|language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine|last=Morais|first=Betsy|date=December 7, 2012|title=Anthropological Video Games|language=en|magazine=The New Yorker|url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/anthropological-video-games|access-date=April 12, 2018|issn=0028-792X}} Littleloud worked with the British charity Labour Behind The Label to ensure the game was factually accurate, but due to controversy over its content the game was eventually removed from the Apple App store.{{Cite web|title=Sweatshop HD no longer available in the App Store - Littleloud|url=http://littleloud.com/2013/03/sweatshop-hd-no-longer-available-in-the-app-store/|access-date=April 12, 2018|website=littleloud.com}}

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|http://www.gamesforchange.org/}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Games for Change}}

Category:501(c)(3) organizations

Category:Environmental education video games

Category:Gaming organizations

Category:Humanitarian video games

Category:International non-profit organizations

Category:Organizations based in New York City

Category:Organizations established in 2004

Category:Social change

Category:Virtual reality