New Video Games Tackle Social Injustice Issues
You’re in Nepal.
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake has just struck your village and you must rescue the survivors.
This is “After Days,” a video game based on the real-life Nepal earthquake that killed almost 9,000 people in 2015.
Minseok Do was showing the game at the recent Games for Change festival in New York City. The games on display were a far cry from "Mario Brothers" and "Call of Duty." These developers featured titles that tackled civic and social issues.
In “After Days,” players take on the role of Ahsha, a young Nepalese woman who attempts to rescue her neighbors in the aftermath of the massive earthquake.
“Other media, such as novels and movies, require consumers to use their imagination to understand characters’ emotions,” said Do, CEO of GamBridzy. “Games have players be in characters’ shoes by letting them command and control. It is in my opinion the most powerful platform.”
In the game, players carry out various missions like transporting injured victims in stretchers and coordinating with rescue teams to restore critical infrastructure.
The first episode is set in Sindhupalchowk, one of the hardest-hit districts of the earthquake in Nepal.
Twenty percent of proceeds from game sales will go toward rebuilding efforts.
Video games at the Games for Change festival didn’t shy away from difficult or touchy topics. Indeed, they were a vehicle for discussion and dialogue.
“The problem in a lot of developing countries is that people do not talk about issues. People do not want to share their problems out of embarrassment,” said Dr. Ilmana Fasih, a director at ZMQ.
The New Delhi-based consulting company developed “YourStoryTeller,” a mobile app that is less of a video game than a digital narrative.
User-contributed stories are transformed into comic strips. Each week, a new story addresses women’s issues in India, a country where patriarchal attitudes are common.
Fasih acknowledged the stories are definitely not of the Disney fairytale variety, and they definitely have a point of view.
