 |
|
The G4C Festival, called "the Sundance of video games" for "socially-responsible game makers," now in its sixth year, takes place annually in early June. The biggest game event in NYC includes panels, briefings for funders and journalists, and a Game Expo providing a rich environment to explore real-world impact, funding strategies and the design of social issue games. Expert practitioners, academics, activists, and representatives from non-profits examine the impact of current games, share case studies and evaluation, and discuss future strategies. At the Game Expo, designers showcase their latest state-of-the-art games. Every year the number of attendees has doubled as the relevance of social issue games takes hold. Join us!
Here you can view our past festival pages, with links to images, video, and audio content from the presentations in each year:
Festival Press Highlights
6.9.06
Saving the World, One Video Game at a Time
by Clive Thompson
"What everyone's realizing is that games are really good at illustrating complex situations," said Suzanne Seggerman, one of the organizers of the [Games for Change] conference. "And we have so many world conflicts that are at a standstill. Why not try something new? Especially where it concerns young people, you have to reach them on their own turf. You think you'll get their attention reading a newspaper or watching a newscast? No way."
Saving the World, One Video Game at a Time
by Clive Thompson
"What everyone's realizing is that games are really good at illustrating complex situations," said Suzanne Seggerman, one of the organizers of the [Games for Change] conference. "And we have so many world conflicts that are at a standstill. Why not try something new? Especially where it concerns young people, you have to reach them on their own turf. You think you'll get their attention reading a newspaper or watching a newscast? No way."
6.28.06
Video-Game Designers Target World Peace
by Robert Smith
A group of game designers says that video-game technology can help save the world by raising humanitarian awareness. The creators of free educational games such as Darfur is Dying and PeaceMaker met with humanitarian activists during the third-annual Games for Change conference in New York…
Video-Game Designers Target World Peace
by Robert Smith
A group of game designers says that video-game technology can help save the world by raising humanitarian awareness. The creators of free educational games such as Darfur is Dying and PeaceMaker met with humanitarian activists during the third-annual Games for Change conference in New York…
7.05.06
Video Game Designers Tackle Real World Problems
by Adam Phillips
Soon, there may be less to complain about, as game developers and social activists collaborate on a new generation of games that are as compelling as virtual worlds, but which also encourage players to learn about, and solve, real world problems…
Video Game Designers Tackle Real World Problems
by Adam Phillips
Soon, there may be less to complain about, as game developers and social activists collaborate on a new generation of games that are as compelling as virtual worlds, but which also encourage players to learn about, and solve, real world problems…
7.15.06
Activism Has Evolved Beyond Sit-ins
Tim McKeough
…The game is part of a growing breed of digital play that aims to educate users about pressing global issues even as they entertain them. In fact, at a recent conference in New York hosted by the organization Games for Change… representatives from MTV mingled with those from the World Bank, the International Center on Non-Violent Conflict and UNICEF. Their shared vision: video games as tools for positive social change,
Activism Has Evolved Beyond Sit-ins
Tim McKeough
…The game is part of a growing breed of digital play that aims to educate users about pressing global issues even as they entertain them. In fact, at a recent conference in New York hosted by the organization Games for Change… representatives from MTV mingled with those from the World Bank, the International Center on Non-Violent Conflict and UNICEF. Their shared vision: video games as tools for positive social change,
5.30.08
Promoting peace, not violence, in video games
by Stefanie Olson
Next week, Advanced Micro Devices plans to announce a project designed to teach kids how to build video games that promote social causes such as fighting poverty or protecting the environment… At the same time next week, Microsoft will show off the first of the environmental education games developed by high school and college kids … The two companies are participating in the fifth annual Games for Change Festival …
Promoting peace, not violence, in video games
by Stefanie Olson
Next week, Advanced Micro Devices plans to announce a project designed to teach kids how to build video games that promote social causes such as fighting poverty or protecting the environment… At the same time next week, Microsoft will show off the first of the environmental education games developed by high school and college kids … The two companies are participating in the fifth annual Games for Change Festival …
6.4.08
Sandra Day O'Connor: Game Designer
by Chris Baker
Delivering the keynote address Wednesday at the annual Games For Change conference ... O'Connor believes that America's youth aren't learning enough about civics, and thinks that the educational power of videogames is just the thing to change that.
Sandra Day O'Connor: Game Designer
by Chris Baker
Delivering the keynote address Wednesday at the annual Games For Change conference ... O'Connor believes that America's youth aren't learning enough about civics, and thinks that the educational power of videogames is just the thing to change that.
6.5.08
Sandra Day O'Connor Rules Video Games
by Allison Stein Wellner
I've just come from Sandra Day O'Connor's keynote address at the Games for Change conference at the New School, an event which aims to help nonprofits and others to harness the power of digital games for social good.
Sandra Day O'Connor Rules Video Games
by Allison Stein Wellner
I've just come from Sandra Day O'Connor's keynote address at the Games for Change conference at the New School, an event which aims to help nonprofits and others to harness the power of digital games for social good.
6.6.08
In Surprise to Herself, Justice O’Connor Makes Foray Into Digital Gaming
by Dan Slater
Loyal LB’er alerted us to a report on Wired magazine’s Game Life blog. On Wednesday, according to the blog, SDO delivered the keynote address at the the annual Games For Change conference, which was held at Parsons New School For Design...
In Surprise to Herself, Justice O’Connor Makes Foray Into Digital Gaming
by Dan Slater
Loyal LB’er alerted us to a report on Wired magazine’s Game Life blog. On Wednesday, according to the blog, SDO delivered the keynote address at the the annual Games For Change conference, which was held at Parsons New School For Design...
6.6.08
Computer games as liberal arts?
by David Kirkpatrick
Though many adults imagine the frightening Grand Theft Auto when they think of video games, kids appear to be subtler thinkers on the subject. Not only do many of them intuitively realize that games can embody any values and be on any subject, many want to make games themselves. That was my big takeaway from the fifth annual Games For Change conference held in New York.
Computer games as liberal arts?
by David Kirkpatrick
Though many adults imagine the frightening Grand Theft Auto when they think of video games, kids appear to be subtler thinkers on the subject. Not only do many of them intuitively realize that games can embody any values and be on any subject, many want to make games themselves. That was my big takeaway from the fifth annual Games For Change conference held in New York.
6.9.08
Former Justice Promotes Web-Based Civics Lessons
by Seth Schiesel
Since retiring from the bench in 2006, Justice O’Connor, 78, has spoken forcefully and often about the dangers posed by efforts to politicize the judiciary. Her thoughts are well known to legal scholars. With Our Courts she hopes to foster a deeper understanding of American government among schoolchildren...
Former Justice Promotes Web-Based Civics Lessons
by Seth Schiesel
Since retiring from the bench in 2006, Justice O’Connor, 78, has spoken forcefully and often about the dangers posed by efforts to politicize the judiciary. Her thoughts are well known to legal scholars. With Our Courts she hopes to foster a deeper understanding of American government among schoolchildren...
6.22.08
Not the Usual Game Application
by Mike Musgrove
Sure, people tend to think of video games as a way to relax. But maybe the format has more to offer, argues Suzanne Seggerman, co-founder and president of a New York organization called Games for Change, which has established itself as a uniting force in a small movement...
Click for more G4C press highlights...
Not the Usual Game Application
by Mike Musgrove
Sure, people tend to think of video games as a way to relax. But maybe the format has more to offer, argues Suzanne Seggerman, co-founder and president of a New York organization called Games for Change, which has established itself as a uniting force in a small movement...
G4C Features
In the News
Inside G4C
Have a News Story for us?
Let us know!
November 20, 2008
NCTI Technology Innovators Conference
August 3, 2009
SIGGRAPH 2009