Games and Gamers - Potential World Changers

Microsoft and the not-for-profit group Games for Change (G4C) this week announced a joint commitment to explore new ways that interactive gaming can impact social issues such as hunger, conflict, racism and environmental degradation. The news came at the 2007 Games for Change Festival held at Parsons the New School for Design.

The collaboration represents the first time a major games publisher has put resources behind the new concept of “public-interest” gaming — an idea, backers say, whose time has come.

To get more insight in how these two forces can work together, PressPass spoke with Suzanne Seggerman, co-founder and president of G4C, and Microsoft’s Jeff Bell, corporate vice president of Global Marketing, Interactive Entertainment Business.

PressPass: First off, let’s get on the same page: What do you mean by “socially responsible gaming”?

Seggerman: Socially responsible gaming is using video games as a medium for creating and encouraging social change. Over the last several years we’ve seen a number of really exciting projects emerge in the interactive gaming world. These are games and projects that take the best art and science of digital gaming and apply it to a whole new purpose.

Some of the most interesting games I’ve seen recently tackle the economics of oil production; alternatives to conflict and war; the tragedy in Darfur, and they all identify ways you can take action in the “real world.”

Bell: At Microsoft, we couldn’t wait to get involved, because the category is such a perfect intersection of our business and technology strengths with our corporate passions. We believe we have the responsibility to make a positive impact on the world and we know we can use gaming as a powerful means to help make the world a better place…

Full Interview @ Microsoft