There was a time when online games served just one purpose: entertainment and a mode of relaxation for the fatigued mind. In recent times, however, online games have become multi-dimensional and games for social causes have been growing since social networking sites like Facebook gave them a platform to reach out to people. Some notable examples are The Binding of Isaac (dealing with child abuse) and Finding Zoe (dealing with social relationship problems).
Another game that has been garnering a lot of attention recently is Half the Sky Movement: The Game, which was launched on Facebook in March. The game, which focuses on raising awareness on issues like child prostitution and human trafficking, has already been played by nearly 1 million users and has raised roughly $4,00,000 in donations. Developed by Games for Change, a US-based company, Half the Sky is being played all over the world, with Cairo and Istanbul being the most popular cities.
Zynga, a provider of social game services, which has raised $1.5 million for about 50 causes, signed on to support Half the Sky Movement to help its development and promotion. Ken Weber, executive director, Zynga.org, the non-profit arm of Zynga, feels the purpose of the game has mostly been achieved with the game attracting about 1 million players in only three months of its launch. ?We have seen a very positive global response. Nearly 1 million players have installed and played the game, and roughly, $4,00,000 in donations have been raised, including more than 2,00,000 books and more than $1,35,000 worth of life-altering surgeries. The game struck the right balance of seriousness and fun, as well as adherence to the source material,? he says.
Zynga felt the game had the potential to elevate issue-based games as well as the right mix of content and amazing design, which can capture the attention of a broad audience and drive social impact. ?Zynga.org?s charitable purpose is to promote and facilitate the use of games for social good,? says Weber.
Interestingly, the protagonist of the game has an Indian name: Radhika. The developers say they wanted to highlight women-centric issues with a special focus on India, and having an Indian protagonist would help making an impact in the region. ?Radhika was the name of an employee who worked with us. She was so helpful, positive and diligent that we decided to name the protagonist after her. Moreover, India is a huge country and has a very significant place in the Half the Sky Movement. We feel we can ?move the needle? in that region and make an impact,? says Asi Burak, co-president, Games for Change.
Inspired by Pulitzer Prize-winning book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, Radhika in the game faces several challenges and needs the assistance of players to help her overcome them. In the course of the game, players can make real-world donations to seven NGOs like Heifer International and Room to Read. For instance, if a player comes across a girl child who needs vaccination, they have the option to make a real-life donation to one of the NGOs, which will fund vaccinations for girl children. The NGOs use the total money collected to deal with a range of women?s issues like sex trafficking, health, financial empowerment, education and gender-based violence. ?There are seven NGO partners, so one can decide to donate to them directly if one feels close to a certain social cause, or donate to the ?pool?,? says Burak. ?Then the money is divided, from which 80% goes to the NGOs, while we keep 20% to maintain the game.?
Half the Sky Movement starts with Radhika pondering over how to afford a doctor?s visit for her sick daughter (the player has to harvest mangoes here and exchange them with the doctor for his visit). Each step requires players to answer questions (such as ?Should Radhika send her child to school or not??) and ends with a social message. As Radhika?s horizon expands, she journeys across the globe to Kenya, Vietnam and Afghanistan.
Funded by the US Agency for International Development, Half the Sky Movement is an easy-to-engage game as it is neither too long nor requires any financial commitment. To further engage players, those who reach a certain threshold level can unlock donations from companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Pearson, which pay for surgeries via the Fistula Foundation. Alternatively, the players can unlock a $2,50,000 donation for books for schoolchildren via Room to Read.
Facebook, which supports more than nine million apps, is a pioneer in giving a platform to games like Half the Sky Movement. However, the social networking site declined to comment, saying it is just a platform for the game and has no involvement in its development.