The journey of the UpGameIn project began with an ambitious mission: to give the gaming industry the tools to create better, more human worlds. The first step was the creation of the Resource Library for Inclusion and Accessibility.
The completion of this significant milestone gives us the momentum to move forward. Now, we are ready to open the next, equally critical, chapter.
The Next Big Challenge: Green Gaming & Circular Economy
The technology and gaming industry, despite its creativity, has a significant environmental footprint. At the same time, games have immense power to shape the thinking and behavior of millions of people. With this in mind, the next deliverable for UpGameIn will focus on two axes:
- How can the industry itself become ‘greener’? We will explore the principles of the circular economy in game production. This includes everything from reducing the energy consumed by servers to using sustainable materials for board games and their packaging.
- How can games promote environmental consciousness? We will analyze gamification techniques and design principles that can be integrated into games to raise players’ awareness of issues like climate change, recycling, and biodiversity protection, without sacrificing fun.
What to Expect from the New Resource Library
Our goal is to create a guide as practical as the first one. It will include:
- Specific Case Studies: Analysis of games that are already successfully implementing “green” mechanics.
- Actionable Checklists: Checklists for developers who want to assess and improve the sustainability of their product.
- Design Frameworks: Structured approaches for integrating environmental themes into a game’s narrative and mechanics.
Our Journey to Poland
The research and development of this deliverable will culminate in our upcoming Learning, Teaching, and Training Activity (LTTA) in Poland, where, together with our partners from Fundacja Fantazmat, who are experts in these practices, we will finalize the content.
The vision of UpGameIn is holistic. A world of games that is accessible, inclusive, and also sustainable is not a utopia. It is an achievable goal, and we are excited to be building it step-by-step with you.
Stay tuned! Subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to know when the new guide is released.
