Not Game Over: Game Developers Tackle the Climate Crisis
Not Game Over: Game Developers Tackle the Climate Crisis
Not Game Over: Game Developers Tackle the Climate Crisis
By Paula Escuadra
February 16, 2021
Summary
The climate crisis impacts our ability to keep making and playing the games we know and love.
We as game makers and players have significant power to take truly meaningful action against this existential threat.
To ensure our video game ecosystem's survival, we need to increase the sustainability of our products and supply chains.
This month, the IGDA Climate SIG is thrilled to kick off its 2021 workstreams focused on building a Climate Guide 101 for game developers; game design patterns; industry benchmarking; and climate council advocacy.
Screenshots from Forza Horizon 4 BREAKING THE EXISTENTIAL DREAD Building a climate movement in the games industry in the middle of a raging pandemic has come with its own set of challenges.
After the UN Playing for the Planet Alliance launched in 2019, we had initially planned to convene developers and publishers at GDC. After COVID-19 hit, we all needed to take time to adjust to the realities of the global pandemic.
It can be very difficult to think about creative solutions to big, seemingly insurmountable problems like climate change when basic needs like health and safety are at high risk.
The Bat-Signal of the International Game Developers Association caused smaller cells of eco-conscious game developers, researchers, and scientists to come together and sync up.
We experienced this striking realization that we're not in this alone - recognizing we can combine our efforts to do something truly transformative, something real that could enable us to keep making and playing the games we love on this beautiful blue dot we all live on.
Reference
Escuadra, P. (2021, February 16). Not Game Over: Game Developers Tackle the Climate Crisis. Gamasutra. https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/PaulaEscuadra/20210216/377522/Not_Game_Over_Game_Developers_Tackle_the_Climate_Crisis.php