Can videogames trigger real-world change? Pokémon Go has inspired people to rescue abandoned animals, thwart would-be robbers and pick up thrash. If virtual reality gaming can lead to such unintended payoffs, imagine the result if social change was built into the game. That’s what a new generation of game developers is aiming for. There’s a game that fights water pollution by giving points to real-world data collection. What about identifying real poachers in Africa? Or cleaning up real oil spills? Many parents would be happy seeing this meaningful gaming replace the crazy violence in most of today’s games. There are obstacles. Ecological games require developers to rethink the concept of winning. It’s not about the one who takes out the most other characters.
Can video games clean up the environment and save the planet?
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