The game, Urgent Evoke, is funded by the World Bank to the tune of $500,000 and launched today.  It will continue for 10 weeks and features weekly challenges. 

A reporter had asked me what I felt about the utility of using online gaming to promote social behaviors.  I thought this was an interesting question.  I think games are a great way to promote social benefits.  It certain is a better way that some others and it helps gamers learn about social values.  It seems like a great partnership.  We live in a society that has declined in the volume of community service it provides, so games would be one way to help teach young people service values.  It should not be contained to Africa but other geographic areas would benefit as well.  Already, 400 people out of 3,500 is a great start,  and the game just launched so only time will tell how many more sign up and how effective long range service mindedness can be encouraged through gaming.  Online gaming is a great way to reach people that otherwise brick-and-mortar avenues may not.  In my clinical practice, gaming behavior transfers to real life, this is part of treatment.  A 16-year old might be a great leader of a popular guild online but in real life suffers from low self esteem.  Treatment encourages the transfer of these skills to benefit others by using this young person's leadership skills.  So, yes, skill sets learned through gaming can transfer to real life, and online learning can also transfer to real life behavior.

This all comes at a time when online gaming has become increasingly popular - yes, addictive to some, but a popular way to reach out to people.  It seems for both young adults and adults.

It would be interesting to hear from online gamers on your thoughts on the effectiveness of this?