Notes

Save the Planet, Play the Game: Conservationists Target Video Gamers

By Hereward Holland



NAIROBI 5 June (Reuters) - Chilli is gibbon that is native to Borneo is expected to soon be jumping from tree to tree in parks from New York to Nairobi as an avatar in a brand new virtual reality video game that aims to promote conservation of endangered species.



Internet of Elephants, a Kenya-based software firm has created computer-generated replicas of Chilli, a real live primate, and three other animals from the jungles of Asia and Africa.



Their game, Wildeverse, is one of a number of games developed by companies around the world who are seeking to harness the increasing popularity of video games on mobile phones to encourage people to lead more environmentally-conscious lifestyles.



With game-play akin to the popular mobile phone game Pokemon Go, Wildeverse users are junior scientists who study the habits of animals in the rain forests of Borneo and Congo Republic, using their smartphone camera to see life-sized virtual trees and primates like Chilli superimposed on their surroundings.



The increasing ubiquity of smart phones mean that the gaming industry is accessible to one-third of the population on earth, and could be a powerful tool to behaviour change, like a public service broadcaster in the digital age, according to Sam Barratt from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).



"Its reach is amazing," Barratt told Reuters. "We are determined to help the industry encourage people to think differently about their relationship with nature and how they can live a (environmentally) lighter lifestyle."



Gaming is the most popular form of entertainment in the world. It generates more revenue than Hollywood, Bollywood and worldwide music sales combined, according to a 2019 report by UNEP called "Playing for the Planet"..



Meanwhile revenues from mobile phone games surpassed consoles in 2015 and as data speeds improve, are projected to reach $91.2 billion in 2021, the gaming consultancy Newzoo estimates.



Internet of Elephants plans to release Wildeverse as a free app for Android and Apple smartphones in the third quarter of the year. There are also options to purchase in-app purchases to unlock additional features.



The game was designed specifically to not be preachy, which can hinder behaviour change, said Jake Manion, head of production at the company.
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He added, "It's easy to fall into the trap of myths concerning burning forests, stranded animal and such like."



NOT ONLY FOR KIDS



As the user-base of video games grows, the demographics begin to transcend gender, age, and geography.



Globally only 22 percent of gamers are younger than 21 years old, while 46% are female and five of the 15 countries that have the most gamers per capita reside in low middle income countries like Nigeria and Indonesia according to the UNEP report showed.



"When we talk about games people think that we're making them for kids," said Gautam Shah the founder of the Internet of Elephants.



He added that the conservation sector is slowly beginning to recognize the potential of gaming to engage people in the same manner that it took them time to recognize the potential and power of social media.



Some of the larger gaming studios are pushing green messaging, just as Shah and other environmentalists hope to make money from the lucrative opportunities in the gaming industry.



Minecraft the blockbuster building game has released new versions that let users design national parks and sustainable cities.



In 2016, then UN Secretary-General Ban ki-moon appointed one of the characters from Rovio's loved Angry Birds franchise an honorary ambassador to encourage youngsters to go "green" and take on climate change.



Rovio also partnered with the World Wide Fund for Nature in order to promote International Tiger Day.



"In the past few years, we have worked with companies to address climate change and encouraged our players to think about it too through climate change-related campaigns in our games," said Minna Eloranta Rovio's senior communication manager.



Niantic is the company behind Pokemon Go with Nintendo Co Ltd, organizes Earth Day clean-up events in every corner of South Africa and Singapore every year.



"Games that connect sustainability initiatives to their primary gameplay mechanics offer the chance to not only increase the player base but also have an important impact on climate change." Yennie Solheim Fuller is the senior manager of social impact at Niantic. (Reporting by Hereward Holland Editing by Maggie Fick and Toby Chopra)


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