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Sunday, June 10, 2007 9:01 PM by johnporcaro

Solving Global Problems with Video Games

Can video games help change the world?  Participants inthe Games for Change Festival in New York City think so.  And so do we. 

We're teaming up with Games for Change, an organization that provides support to individuals and organizations using digital games for social change.  Xbox Global Marketing VP Jeff Bell is in New York to speak at the conference, and to announce a new "socially minded" global gaming competition, called the “Xbox 360 Games for Change Challenge.”  We hope it will help drive awareness for games based on social themes.

This worldwide competition will launch in August, to challenge college students to use XNA Game Studio Express to come up with the best game based on the theme of global warming.

Microsoft and Games for Change will award three cash prizes to the best team or individual entry, and the top three winning games will be considered for possible inclusion as a download on Xbox LIVE Arcade.  The first place team or individual will also win the opportunity to become an apprentice at Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Business as part of its internship program. For information, visit www.xbox.com/g4c. 

If you're in the New York City area, you should check out the The Games for Change Festival.  It brings together academics, game creators, nonprofit representatives, business executives and activists to discuss the impact of games on our culture and evaluate the potential for a new genre of socially minded video games. 

For details, you can read the press release we just sent.


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Comments

# re: Solving Global Problems with Video Games

Monday, June 11, 2007 2:55 AM by Dude
Awesome idea, good stuff guys.

The link for this doesn't seem to be working though ... I think "Xbox 360 Games for Change Challenge" should link to www.xbox.com/g4c, which doesn't seem to be live yet. :)

# re: Solving Global Problems with Video Games

Monday, June 11, 2007 5:23 AM by Xwar
Five bucks says that games that paint the global warming crusade for the powerhungry-lobbies-backed load of anti-Western baloney it is don't get prizes.

# re: Solving Global Problems with Video Games

Monday, June 11, 2007 6:51 AM by quezcotl
Jesus crhist,let the gamers be,you think we're some special people?
Thus having our own thing like this?

I would never donate.

# re: Solving Global Problems with Video Games

Monday, June 11, 2007 6:52 AM by Matt
OMG, this needs to stop!  I've retreated from the Hollywood industry because I'm SO tired of being preached to when I just want some entertainment. Now MS is going to poison my gaming experience too?  I can't believe MS would jump on this global warming crap.  And I agree with Xwar, even though the contest is "on the theme of global warming" I'm guessing your game has to be a Bush-bashing Socialism-pushing USA-hating POS in order to even be considered for attention. MS, please, keep your politics to yourself, and keep it off my Xbox! It's bad enough you guys pushed The Daily Show and The Colbert Report without a balanced alternative... that was strike one, this is strike two. Don't make me put you on my do-not-watch-do-not-spend-money-on list.

# re: Solving Global Problems with Video Games

Monday, June 11, 2007 3:57 PM by NIN 013
This sounds more like talent recruitment to me...

# re: Solving Global Problems with Video Games

Monday, June 11, 2007 9:20 PM by Dude
Wow, I guess everyone has different views of the world.  

Even if you think global warming is "controversial", who cares if a company does one small initiative that happens to be related to it?  

I guess some would react the same way because a game has ... evolution ... abortion ... nudity ... guns ... relgion ... history ... !

The number of people who are unhappy about everything and make threats because of it is truly sad.  

# re: Solving Global Problems with Video Games

Tuesday, June 12, 2007 12:47 PM by Brandon Tyler
I have been very excited about everything that you guys have always done to help out the "world".  But I think you could have picked a better topic than Global Warming.  How about illegal immigration? Or abortion?  Oh wait those are probably not appropriate either.

Seriously though, why not hunger? Or AIDS?
Anyway, just had to vent when I read this.
Thanks for all you do guys!
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About John Porcaro

John is Director of Customer and Community Relationship Management, Microsoft's IEB Global Marketing Team. His team is responsible for Online Community for Xbox and Games for Windows, and CRM/customer communications. He's been at Microsoft since 1990, where he's been a Product Manager, Channel Marketing Manager, Communications Manager, and Events Manager, mostly working in our Consumer Division (currently called Entertainment & Devices Division).