Much more than pure entertainment, videogames are revolutionising education, healthcare and social change, shaping a better tomorrow.
From healthcare to education and climate activism, Australian videogames are pushing boundaries and creating long-lasting social change with global impact.
As part of Melbourne International Games Week, the Games for Change Asia-Pacific Festival (G4C APAC) will showcase the digital games driving social change across diverse sectors on 4 October.
The Games Education Symposium, held on 3-4 October, will encourage students to explore how games can be used to make the world a better place.
A gaming revolution
- 4 October – Games for Change Asia-Pacific Festival
- 3-4 October – Games Education Symposium
Find Melbourne’s latest film, TV, literature and gaming news here.
Social impact games like Mini Melbourne provide a platform to share authentic and diverse stories and help users find community. Working with Melbourne’s Immigration Museum, game developer Dr Michelle Chen collaborated with workshop audiences to create a video game that brings people from diverse backgrounds together to share their experiences of moving to and living in Melbourne.
Dr Chen, also the founder of Mental Jam – a series of workshops dedicated to co-creating video games about lived experiences of depression and anxiety – demonstrates the power of video games in connecting people facing isolating situations. These games help players find communities that may not be easily accessible in the real world.
Video games can also bridge gaps between people with different perspectives and backgrounds. Life (Re)sounding raises awareness of neurodiversity by allowing players to experience life through the eyes of a neurodivergent person in a neurotypical world. Through game mechanics, environments, and audio design, it highlights the challenges neurodivergent individuals face that may be invisible to others.
In The Adaption Game (TAG), players learn proactive ways to prepare for climate change while mitigating eco anxiety. By scaling climate change down to specific local risks, players time travel along predicted climate pathways, experiencing a possible future. The TAG team collaborates with local governments to make each game regionally relevant and freely accessible. Early results show that TAG decreases climate anxiety while empowering players to take action.
These events highlight the incredible ways games positively impact communities and promote social good. Video games transcend location, language, and ability, forming connections and allowing players to see the world from new perspectives.
Daniel Teitelbaum, G4C APAC’s Festival Director, said, “It’s a great pleasure to celebrate and showcase the games and game-makers working to improve our world. This year we have the privilege to hear from an incredible lineup of speakers across themes of neurodiversity, mental health, connection to nature, climate change preparedness, sharing stories of culture, the empowerment of women gamers, and the future of impactful education. It’s a joy to see play actualise its potential as a positive and powerful force for a better world.”
Games for Change Asia-Pacific Festival 2024 (4 October) is presented by Games for Change and ACMI, with support from RMIT and Chaos Theory Games.
The free, two-day Games Education Symposium: Careers and Frontiers, presented by Creative Victoria, will take place on 3-4 October at Fed Square.
Explore the future of games for good. Visit gamesweek.melbourne.
