There are almost 200 million consumers in the Middle Eastern region today, and more than 33 million of them are online, according to Internet World Stats. As one of the first lessons in Entrepreneurship is to find an underserved market and serve it, that's just what BreakAway Games and Quirkat have done!

"Second - and here is what is novel, at least to me - is that there's a bonus structure in the game designed to award bonuses for when you have accomplished tasks. The first bonus award that I'm awarding myself looks at constructing a walk so that you make an orbit around the biggest possible chunk of territory; that is to say, repeated walks along the same path will get you zero bonus, but going out of your way on a detour will add to your score, and trekking through unfamiliar territory in a big loop is the best."

via http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZGCPap7GkY

"In a gamified world, corporations don't have to reward us for our business by offering better service or lower prices. Rather, they can just set up a game structure that makes us feel as if we're being rewarded. McGonigal goes even further. She talks about an "engagement economy … that works by motivating and rewarding participants with intrinsic rewards, and not more lucrative compensation." This economy doesn't rely on cash—rather, it pays participants with points, peer recognition, and their names on leader boards. It's hard to tell if this is fairy-tale thinking or an evil plot."

Learning and Entertainment Evolution Forum

via http://www.librarybazaar.com/2010/12/01/sermon-jane-mcgonigal/

http://mssv.net/2010/11/14/yakuza-3-a-serious-game/
"In any other game, here’s the script: I’d beat up Nakahara, then beat up his underlings, and then trashed the headquarters. I’d make some powerful enemies, and spent the next few chapters dealing with them. Instead, Yakuza 3 has Kiryuu – who we know is fully capable of taking on Nakahara, sword or not – reason with him, and ultimately win him over. You don’t end up fighting Nakahara at all.
What delighted me about this (mostly computer-generated movie) sequence was not its impeccable camera work, direction, and voice acting. It was how it confounded my expectations of violence being the best – and the only – way of resolving this conflict; expectations that are reinforced with each and every game that seeks to paint the world in only black and white."

""

""

""

"Resources and support for everyone interested in media literacy and digital literacy for young people. To learn how to get the most out of the tools and resources on this site, visit our help section and our site map."

The ISIS program is a two year industry development project modelling the interplay of interactive media expertise with ‘non-entertainment’ industry sectors. Drawing on the advice and input by a highly skilled and knowledgeable ‘Industry Expert Group’, the ISIS team will review the current international landscape and explore how Australia can situate itself to best capitalise on future opportunities through research, integrations, student placements and mentoring.

via Luis vonAhn #RSWebSci talk 2010-09

# Save Planet Helios from ecological devastation!
# Exciting, 3D, action-strategy game
# Meet new friends
# Download and Play for FREE

"As a college student, you might think that all computer games are meant for procrastinating and letting off steam. But these computer games are especially designed to teach you about social issues, from public health to the environment to human rights to poverty. Here are 50 serious (but still fun) games for social change."

Games for Change (G4C) provides support, visibility and shared resources to organizations and individuals using digital games for social change. This is the primary community of practice for those interested in making digital games about the most pressing issues of our day, from poverty to race and the environment. We are the social change/social issues branch of the Serious Games Initiative.

A disaster simulation game from the UN / ISDR - Each scenario takes between 10 and 20 minutes to play, depending on the disaster you are trying to prevent and your skill level. There are five scenarios to play, and each can be played on easy, medium or hard difficulty levels. The core audience is 9-16 year old children, but anyone can play and enjoy the game, and everyone will learn more about preventing disasters. This is a single player game, but groups of children in a classroom environment can play collaboratively and discuss the best course of action to take. Additional learning material for students and teachers is available in the ‘Information’ section of this web site. We have created additional resources for teachers and encourage schools to play this game as a classroom exercise. Why not suggest it to your teacher at school?