Even Video Games are Targeting Environmental Issues

“In a desperate, near future setting where controlling the planet’s depleting fossil resources determines the ultimate fate of civilization. A global war for oil is being waged between two superpowers, the Western Coalition (US/EU) and the Red Star Alliance (Russia/China).”

Jane McGonigal was a speaker at South by Southwest this year. She’s a game designer and future forecaster who “takes play seriously.” Her day to day work is as senior researcher at the Institute for the Future (what a great name). Jane spends a majority of her time writing and speaking about the power of digital games, virtual environments and other immersive experiences. She believes that they can change our current reality and also shape our future. Her specialty is focusing on designing collaborative games that mesh the real world with virtual environments. Originally titled “World Without Oil”, Frontlines: Fuel of War is a collaborative online game simulating global oil shortage. It’s the first mainstream video game to capitalize on the worst case scenario of a global oil shortage. According to Craig Anderson, the game “could in fact lead to changes in attitudes, beliefs, and ultimately, changes in behavior.” Craig is a well established professor who teaches psychology at Iowa State University. He is a leading expert in the study of how video games effect people.