The Game Needs to Change by Prax, Patrick; Whittle, Clayton; York, Trevin;

Short description:

This book shows how games can play their part in addressing climate change and how we can sustainably make games for sustainability. Based on both industry practice and research, the chapters within give voice to those who are working on sustainability in gaming and through gaming.

Long description:

This book shows how games can play their part in addressing climate change and how we can sustainably make games for sustainability. Based on both industry practice and research, the chapters within this book give voice to those who are working on sustainability in and through gaming. From the ways we make games to the ways we design them to resonate with players, these perspectives offer pragmatic recommendations and concrete starting points for working toward sustainability, showing you how to get started, no matter your role.

Divided into four sections, the first section covers systemic approaches to this work, covering how change can occur at all levels of scale. Section 2 explores how stories are told toward sustainable futures across organized communities, emerging markets, journalism, and more. Section 3 critically examines ways of integrating sustainability messaging into games, with practical reflections from developers and researchers on the challenges and strategies unique to this context. Finally, Section 4 highlights individuals who bring theory into action, with personal stories demonstrating what it means to be a game developer dedicated to sustainability.

This book will appeal to game makers who want to address sustainability through the content and message of their creative work, as well as to members of the wider game industry working toward more sustainable practices—including representatives of industry organizations, publishers, platforms, and policymakers. It will also be of interest to game design and development researchers, academics, and students eager to learn more about integrating sustainability into both processes and outcomes.

Table of Contents:

Chapter 1        It’s Dangerous to Go Alone! Take this Book!, Chapter 2        Introduction Part 1 - Towards Systemic Sustainability and Games, Chapter 3        Introduction Part 2 - Designing With Theories Of Change, SECTION 1: Systemic Approaches, Chapter 4        Section 1: Systemic Approaches, Chapter 5        Systemic and Collective Change in Practice—Examples and Inspiration, Chapter 6        Opportunities for impact games in social movements and campaigns, Chapter 7        Together We Stand, Divided We Fall: How Can Game Developers Navigate the Economic, Social, and Environmental Sustainability Challenges of the Game Industry?, Chapter 8        Making Every Game Green, SECTION 2: Telling Stories from a Sustainable Future, Chapter 9        Section 2: Production, Processes and Material Conditions, Chapter 10      How Can Sustainable Game Makers Get Journalists To Pay Attention?, Chapter 11       Building a Green Game Movement: An overview of pro-environmental efforts in the game industry and beyond, Chapter 12      Exploring Sustainable Gamemaking Through an Artgame Residency, Chapter 13      “Changing the Question: What Is an Ecological Game?” On the Three Definitions of Sustainable Game Design, Chapter 14      Sustainable Game Design in China: Pioneering Practices and Future Directions, SECTION 3: Integrating Environmental Messages into Game Design / Mechanics, Chapter 15      Section 3: Design for Environmental Messaging, Chapter 16      Sustainable Game Design Beyond the ‘Nature-as-Franchise’ Paradigm, Chapter 17      From Exploitation to Restoration: Rethinking Management Games, Chapter 18      Terra Nil: reclaiming the wasteland through affective play, Chapter 19      Empowering Communities to Define Climate Goals, Chapter 20      Critical game design paradigms as tools for environmental action, SECTION 4: From Theory to Action, Chapter 21      Section 4: From Theory to Action, Chapter 22      Rendering Resistance: Making Defiant Games, Chapter 23      Reflections from a Game Dev Activist, Chapter 24      Take Care of Each Other: Cultural and Personal Frameworks for Surviving the Games Industry, Chapter 25      Conclusion