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Water Cooler Games served as the web's primary forum for "videogames with an agenda" — coverage of the uses of video games in advertising, politics, education, and other everyday activities, outside the sphere of entertainment.

The site was maintained at watercoolergames.org from 2003-2009, where it was edited by myself and Gonzalo Frasca. It is now archived here in full.

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Man shall not live by bread alone: UN Game

by Gonzalo Frasca August 19, 2004

categories: Public Policy Games

The United Nations will launch a game about world hunger. Here's a BBC article with some screenshots (I just hate when they mainly show cutscenes graphics rather than gameplay pics. I know they look better, but who cares?). There's a particular paragraph in the article that has scared me: "From the feedback sessions we had, the kids are remembering 75% of the information about what the WFP do."

Again, haven't played the game (not out yet, but should be available as a free download, go UN!) but it is sad to see that, based on that quote, the game may be aiming to deliver information. Videogames are NOT a good way to deliver losts of information. Printed texts and films are great for info. The web is great for info. Videogames are good for delivering patterns of behavior along with some basic information. I am not surprised that the game tries to deliver the info through short videos at the end of each level, but that is not the ideal way to make a game (long cutscenes are boring and drive your attention back from the game). Still, I am excited to see that the UN is taking videogames seriously enough. I am looking forward to play with global food, the UN way.

Comments (7)

Video games may not be the ideal medium to deliver information, but I think that the experience will be far more resonant, especially since it involves a level of human interaction not present in most "kill everything that moves" games.

The concept of creating a community around the game could really push it above and beyond just an interesting gameplay experience, encoraging discussion about the themes.

But I think the most valuable aspect of this game is that, being released free over the Internet and for both major platforms, it provides a nice counterbalance to military recruiting games like "America's Army". Wouldn't it be nice if someone could make a hack or mod where the UN had to go in and clean up the mess in a war-torn area after a game of "America's Army"?

Chris Norman on August 19, 2004 2:19 PM

Oh, sure. I guess I complained too much about some details, but I agree that this is a terrific thing (as long as the game is interesting to play, of course). But since I have been burned too many times with games with far too good intentions, but not really engaging, I always try to minimize hype. Still, I'll be hitting reload to their launch page until the files are available! :)

Frasca on August 19, 2004 3:04 PM

Very interesting. Ever since taking a class on international human rights earlier this summer, I'd been thinking that a game about UN work could be very effective. But whereas Food Force seems to take a Command & Conquer type approach to setting up missions, I figured a more effective approach would be to ground them with Real People on all sides of the conflict, using LOTR (videogame) style transitions from video to virtual.

As for the information retention, I can see simulation being very good (perhaps optimal) for relaying *functional* information, which seems to be what Food Force is about. After all, players seem to be able to digest lots of info regarding units, combat effectiveness, and so on in games like StarCraft, and possibly even more info in various MMORPGs. As long as videogames allows players to put information to use, and repeatedly, they should be a pretty good way to deliver that information.

Walter on August 21, 2004 11:05 PM

Game launched today, says the bBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4443435.stm

Colin Donald on April 14, 2005 12:55 PM

Yeah, it's published, but it took me several (like 20) tries to start the download. I assume they'll get it mirrored soon, but it seems like they would anticipate a lot of traffic with the launch.

I'll see if it's worth the wait in 20 minutes or so.

zach on April 15, 2005 2:09 AM

Can't get the game download started, this definitely needs mirroring if anyone with lots of bandwidth reads this :-)

Walter, I really like your idea. I'd love to see a game like that. As an open framework that any of the aid agencies can adapt for their projects it would be even better - a game dealing with communities torn apart by aids, another with dirty water and typhoid... these could be really powerful.

Peter on April 15, 2005 10:45 AM

I live in South Africa and hence cannot download the game as it is only available free in the US... So much for "United Nations" :(

Erik on April 15, 2005 8:12 PM