Social Impact Games

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Posted by Zonk on Monday September 20, 2004 @02:00AM from the game-your-homework dept.

TeachingMachines writes "If you are interested in the cultural potential of gaming you might want to check out Social Impact Games. It's a site that catalogs links to over 200 games that are entertaining but not necessarily designed for the purpose of entertainment. For example, the Monkey Wrench Conspiracy is a first-person shooter game designed to teach mechanical design engineers to use 3-D CAD software. A game titled Incident Commander will model situations that include acts of terrorism, school hostage crises, and natural disasters."

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Social Impact, eh? by maskedbishounen · 2004-09-20 02:16 · Score: 2, Interesting

Here's one a lot of /. folks might enjoy. The Anti-Bush Video Game.

--
"An infinite number of monkeys typing into GNU emacs would never make a good program."
1. Re:Social Impact, eh? by KDR_11k · 2004-09-20 03:27 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  This game sucks as far as gameplay goes, the story is absolutely ridiculous and the propaganda is thinly veiled. And I'm not even a Bush supporter!
  
  Seriously, if you want to make a game to get a message out, good, but please make sure the game part deserves its name! I'm not going to play a crap game, no matter how much it's trying to teach me.
  
  --
  Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
2. Re:Social Impact, eh? by CodeMonkey4Hire · 2004-09-20 05:44 · Score: 1
  
  Wow. That was one of the stupidest "games" I've ever played. It's mostly just a bunch of pointless running from place to place to see slides of extreme anti-Bush propaganda. Don't get me wrong, I'm voting against Bush in November, but this "game" is utter crap.
  
  BTW, I did win, but I was down to my last life (Jesus) with only 1 heart left. Phew!
  
  --
  
  Let's go Hurricanes!!! 2006 Stanley Cup Champions!!!
3. Re:Social Impact, eh? by KDR_11k · 2004-09-20 06:28 · Score: 1
  
  Don't worry, if you run out of lives you can just select continue and get 'em all back so you can easily see all of the propaganda and less skillful players don't feel left out.
  
  --
  Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
4. Re:Social Impact, eh? by CodeMonkey4Hire · 2004-09-20 06:41 · Score: 1
  
  It was fairly mindless (most of the time you could just stand off to the side). I lost a bit of my health running through rooms too quickly (and into goons). I think I injured my clicking finger trying to get through the hundreds of slides as quick as I could. ;)
  
  --
  
  Let's go Hurricanes!!! 2006 Stanley Cup Champions!!!
5. Re:Social Impact, eh? by KevinKnSC · 2004-09-20 08:13 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  This game offended me on a very deep level. Say what you will about the president, but do not speak ill of Voltron!
Monkey Wrench Conspiracy by HanClinto · 2004-09-20 04:32 · Score: 3, Interesting

This game looks really cool, but I can't find a place where I might be able to download it / buy it / try it. The manufacturer's website is giving me a 404, and while it has vague allusions to it on a search through the site, there's no hard information on it. It looks like it might have been renamed to "Time Mechanic", but I'm not finding that either. Anyone elae have better luck with this?
i didn't check but.. by Morph233 · 2004-09-20 04:36 · Score: 1

is there a game i can play to be less anti-social?
1. Re:i didn't check but.. by CodeMonkey4Hire · 2004-09-20 04:57 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  It's called dating. You log on to this MMORPG called life and do things like chatting while competing with/against each other through myriads of mini-games. It even includes in-game cut-scenes that advance the plot.
  
  Eventually, if your team works really well together, you might be able to expand your team by recruiting some newbies. Oh, but don't let your boss catch you playing at work. And make sure that you share your power-ups with your teammates or they might look for another team.
  
  --
  
  Let's go Hurricanes!!! 2006 Stanley Cup Champions!!!
2. Re:i didn't check but.. by KDR_11k · 2004-09-20 06:32 · Score: 1
  
  My firewall blocks it, can anyone name the ports needed?
  
  --
  Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
3. Re:i didn't check but.. by CodeMonkey4Hire · 2004-09-20 06:43 · Score: 1
  
  42? I think that fits! You have come up with The Question!
  
  --
  
  Let's go Hurricanes!!! 2006 Stanley Cup Champions!!!
Sounds Familiar by NashCarey · 2004-09-20 05:09 · Score: 5, Informative

This reminds me alot of http://www.persuasivegames.com/Persuasive Games. They are working towards the same idea of changing the minds of people playing the games. Video Games are the most immersive Form of Media out there so It is just a matter of time before people started this slant.

I created an Alternate Reality Game called http://www.ruaware.org/AWARE which dealt with the issues of privacy and terrorism. Many people before playing the games had different views than the ideals they ended with. ARG's probably have a REALLY big effect since the game really puts YOU in the action. The stange thing is I saw no mention of ARG's on their site.
1. Re:Sounds Familiar by js7a · 2004-09-20 11:01 · Score: 1
  
  I want to make my product into some kind of a game. Any suggestions?
Ultima IV was disqualified, I guess by YetAnotherName · 2004-09-20 05:15 · Score: 4, Insightful

There's a surprising number of games listed on that site, but no Ultima IV, apparently because its first goal was to entertain and not enlighten/educate/etc.. However, a large number of players took to heart the system of virtues expounded in the game; even to this day I evaluate myself as "high in compassion" but "lacking in spirituality." Social impact? A lot of pimply-faced youths were at least exposed to the concept of virtue and its value to civilization.

(Incidentally, Ultima IV fans may wish to check out the remake projecet.)
1. Re:Ultima IV was disqualified, I guess by FortKnox · 2004-09-20 05:45 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  Wow, I'm so glad that someone else thinks the same way. The Ultima series after 4 always involved the 7 virtues and 3 principles and the relation of them all. Every town had a fundamental virtue that life was based around. It really showed a player what it took to be a virtuous person.
  
  That being said, the remake doesn't look as impressive as the NES version of Ultima 4 (which was very impressive, might I add).
  
  --
  Good quote, too many chars. Seriously, the slashdot 120 char limit sucks!
2. Re:Ultima IV was disqualified, I guess by FortKnox · 2004-09-20 05:58 · Score: 1
  
  Here's a page with the NES screenshots on them too add to my above comments.
  
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  Good quote, too many chars. Seriously, the slashdot 120 char limit sucks!
3. Re:Ultima IV was disqualified, I guess by KevinKnSC · 2004-09-20 08:19 · Score: 1
  
  The Ultima series after 4 always involved the 7 virtues and 3 principles and the relation of them all.
  There were 8 virtues, you're probably forgetting Humility.
4. Re:Ultima IV was disqualified, I guess by Zoshnell · 2004-09-20 11:01 · Score: 1
  
  I think he was being humble, and not trying to show off his leet Ultima skillz. Truly an american icon :)
  
  --
  "Do you suppose that's why God lives in the Heavens? Because he lives in fear of His creations?" - Steve Buscemi
Colobot by Ndiin · 2004-09-20 13:58 · Score: 1

They're missing one of the most entertaining edutainment games around, Colobot!
Programming robots to do your dirty work on alien worlds, be it fetch and retrieve or guarding against some nasties. Fun game, give the demo a try.
Can't believe I remember by acxr+is+wasted · 2004-09-20 17:08 · Score: 1

This story is a dupe. I stand by my opinions.

--
"Come on, let's go drink till we can't feel feelings anymore."