Socially Conscious Games: The 'why' and 'how' explained

There has been a recent push by a few developers in the gaming community to address issues relating to social problems and politics through gaming. The website Games for Change is a prime example of this, devoting itself to provide "support, visibility and shared resources to individuals and organizations using digital games for social change." There have been a multitude of socially conscious games made available to the public. These games are almost always free internet-based Flash games, aimed at outreach through education and play such as the Hurricane Katrina game. As this movement continues, I would like to offer my analysis of the reasoning behind making socially conscious games, being a socially conscious gamer, and how to better bridge the gap between the gaming industry and this burgeoning force.

Why should we make/play socially conscious games?

"Why" is the first question we must answer. Why would "gamers" and "gaming" as a hobbyist group take on this kind of resonsibility? One answer is that this movement is part of the maturation process of the medium. It's like games are going through puberty. At a relatively young 40 years of age, gaming is beginning to take on adult themes and becoming socially aware to the world around it. 20 or 30 years ago, gaming was only fit to statiate something visceral and mechanical within us. 2D space shooters and falling-block puzzlers tested our reflexes and decision making, but they did little to challenge preconceptions of our real world existence. However, today we find ourselves all grown up. Consoles push more polygons and produce better simulations. As a result, game developers have more time to focus on the oftentimes forgotten aspects of game design (story, purpose, message, etc.). And finally, we gamers have grown up as well and expect something substantive from our gaming experience. The powder-puff clouds and rainbow color pallete of yesterday's games cannot sustain our attentions forever.

However, while the maturation process theory may begin to explain the trend in socially conscious gaming, it fails to identify the unique approach that videogames as a medium can bring to the discourse. The lack of this understanding in socially conscious games is what relegates the field to flash game fodder and the dreaded "edutainment" label. Most games that try to be socially conscious take a "hard" approach. By this I mean that such games hit you with hard facts about their issue or goal, with some bad uninspired gameplay sprinkled in-between the lecture. There is no fluidity between game and message. When I play these games I often wonder why I didn't just read their message on a website instead of having to work for it. I become less inclined to listen and end up skipping dialogue or stopping play altogether.

A different approach

In order to produce a socially conscious game that successfully uses the medium, we must first understand what it means to make a good game. I'm no designer or programmer, so my opinion comes from that as a user, but a good videogame must be able to tell a story through its gameplay. I do not mean story as in a script or a larger narrative, but rather the stories that each individual user creates through play. What separates games from other mediums is the ability to dynamically create a story. A novel is the same novel the first time and the tenth time you read it. A song has the same lyrics no matter how many times you listen to it. These are all linear experiences that alienate the user from the creation. However, videogames are dynamic systems with the ability to produce worlds and simulations. How a user chooses to achieve the goals set out by the games are up to him/her to discover individually. And unlike film or music, a game cannot play itself. Playing a game respresents not only the will of the creators to create an engaging experience, but also the approval of the player who must actively participate in order to finish. This reciprocal relationship between game and user has the ability to produce a deeply personal connection with each individual. By understanding this connection, we can begin to produce a better socially conscious gaming experience.

Sympathy and Empathy

A socially conscious game attempts to have the user understand the position of another individual or group of people. The approach most games of this kind have taken is an "empathic" one. Empathy refers to interpersonal understanding defined through intellectual and emotional awareness of another's feelings. When we play a game like Hurrice Katrina: Tempest in the Crescent City, we are presented with a fictional character whom we help guide through a series of events. Throughout her journey, we see her rescue people as she learns of the awful decisions that enabled suffering throughout the Hurricane Katrina incident. While certainly a sound approach, this game is little different than if I had read an article that informed me of the same information (which would likely have had better writing) or a short film (which would have been more visually engaging). In order to fully utilize the games medium for a progressive end, we must be proficient in being able to create systems and worlds that connect with players.

The heart of the videogame experience lies in its ability to create simulations. Simulations are far different from other mediums because users are able to experience something for themselves as opposed to being told as third parties. Thus, videogames are most successful when they produce a "sympathetic" experience for the user, one that allows him or her to share in the event and imagine it for him or herself. A socially conscious game must first and foremost create an engaging gaming experience. Players become invested and learn more from simulated systems that they find interesting and challenging; it is not the explicit, traditional narrative that defines the soul of a game. This challenge is rarely met in the field of games traditionally considered as "socially conscious." Part of the reason is that they are stuck in old technology, probably due to cost and accessibility. Flash games are best for diversions and not for producing captivating world and gaming experiences. A successful socially conscious game must creatively synthesize message, design, and technology in order to provide a convincing simulation of the experience or story it is attempting to convey.

Moving Forward

In order to bridge the gap between an engaging game experience and a socially conscious message, I suggest the following approaches. First, for progressive individuals and organizations who have chosen to use games as a medium for their activism, I encourage you to understand what makes a good game. What kind of genre will convey your message best? Should it be in third-person or first-person? 3D or 2D? While a lot of these decisions are likely made on the basis of lowering costs and development time, I believe that spending a bit more effort identifying your issue and its gaming parallels will result in a more rewarding experience for users. For example, instead of presenting a fixed narrative for a defined character, allow users to craft their own experience through avatar creation. Adding traditional role-playing elements to a game increases the input made by users which results in a more individualized experience.

Finally, for professional developers looking to add socially conscious themes to their games, do not assume that one must make an overtly "political" game in order to be effective. Even the old space marine shooter can include themes of oppression and activism if executed properly. As a developer, your strength lies in your ability to create genuinely engaging games. The next step is to provide a positive message behind those games that will resonate with gamers beyond the twitch mechanics. Making this leap in effort will give a game a different dimension that will appeal to users' social sensibilities and not just their reflexes.

--david