#myconservationpark

[goodworldgames-blog]

Need to know: Good World Games (TSN)

February, 2012

This has been translated from the original Portuguese. To read the original article please click here. 

Combining gaming and social causes has turned out to be a very effective way to engage players on Facebook and a great way to raise funds for philanthropic causes. Last year, Zynga raised money through some of their games to benefit victims of the earthquakes in Japan and Haiti. Today, we are seeing increasing use of social games for philanthropic initiatives. 

The startup Good World Games is developing games for Facebook whose sole objective it is to combine the power of humanitarian causes with the virality of social gaming. Their first game is called MyConservationPark and it aims to have players protect animals from human and environmental threats while creating a sustainable habitat with diverse fauna and flora. 

There are two game modes for players to choose from. In Play mode, new challenges appear continuously and players must overcome them to save and protect their endangered species. In this mode, ecosystem and hero health directly affect the players’ performance and ability to deal with these challenges. 

In Decorate mode players can create a biodiverse environment for their species by adding animals, trees, water, food, sheds and other elements. In this mode players can purchase rangers, native species, watchtowers and even insects. 

All in-game purchases of virtual items in MyConservationPark directly benefit Good World Games’ charity partners with 15% of revenue donated to selected causes. Each park benefits a different non-profit partner. Some project partners are: the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, Sea Shepherd, WildAid and Orangutan Outreach. Players are able to see what percentage of revenue has been donated to each non-profit. 

[goodworldgames-blog]

Dr. Alan Rabinowitz from Panthera talks about his lifelong work with jaguars and why playing MyConservationPark is gaming for good!

[goodworldgames-blog]

Recently Rob Stewart, maker and director of the multi-award-winning movie Sharkwater, recorded this special video discussing the importance of shark conservation and how to support efforts by playing MyConservationPark's Hammerhead park.

[goodworldgames-blog]

Games in and of themselves are great; but games that also do good are awesome. Good World Games had the crazy idea that maybe games are more than about having fun and entertaining your brain for a few minutes here a few hours there, although that is important stuff. What if games can change the way people behave in their real world lives? What if games can get people reflexively helping out noble causes as naturally as they do laundry, brush their teeth, or drive to work? What if giving just became apart of what we do everyday? The game is also educational, teaching children the importance of environmental and animal conservation and their own responsibility in caring for the Earth.

[goodworldgames-blog]

This philosophy of “gaming for social good” has taken off in recent years, with games popping up seeking to tackle issues of hunger, poverty, community cohesion, environmental sustainability and education. Toronto-based Good World Games recently released My Conservation Park, a socially conscious game that sees players build and manage a wildlife reserve.

[goodworldgames-blog]

Captain Paul Watson of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and the TLC show Whale Wars officially endorsed the social game, MyConservationPark. Through a partnership with Sea Shepherd, developer Good World Games will donate 15% of earnings to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

[goodworldgames-blog]

Our first coverage in a newspaper! Proud to say we got a writeup in The Independent, one of the most influential U.K. newspapers!

The trend for social networking games with positive real world environmental impacts continues with the recently released gorilla saving game My Conservation Park.

The game revolves around players trying to protect an endangered animal from environmental and human threats while at the same time adding native flora and fauna to the area in an effort to create a sustainable habitat.

[goodworldgames-blog]

Via EarthTechling.Thanks for telling people about the game!

While Facebook games are generally more known for wasting your time than helping to save the world, My Conservation Park aims to help the well-intentioned "play it forward" by funding real-world conservation efforts based on virtual participation.

This latest effort from Good World Games, part of a partnership with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, challenges players to protect their "heroes" from an increasing number of human and environmental threats (including those tied to humanity's ever-growing carbon footprint). In recompense for these virtual good deeds, players are rewarded with cash and karma.