Darfur is dying

”I’m here to think about what I’m doing and why the designer created this particular set of interactions and what they might mean.” (Rohrer, J. 2009)

Their is many games that I have played but the one that still sticks in my mind with the deepest meaning behind it has to be Darfur is dying and this is because of the deep deep meaning behind it. This games pushes the boundaries of our minds and is actually testing our human instincts. It tests what we would do if we were in this game.

Basically Darfur is dying is a game where you have to get water for your town so that they don't all die and you are getting hunted by the militants to try and take you and either kill you or use you as a slave. You have to choose at the beginning of the game who is going to go get water for you but this is where your decisions matter. You can choose a young child who can run fast but can't carry as much water so you can get back and forth fast but you have to do more runs or you can be an adult but they can't run fast but can carry more. So you have to think would you rather send a child or an adult. So basically already you are making a big decision when you send a child to its possible death instead of sending a representation of you as an adult.

When a game has got a strong meaning the way that this one does it means that you can implement more than just a game into someones life but that you can actually teach them what is happening in these countries and the decisions that they have to make in day to day life. These are problems that we may not be aware of but they are very much real and a game is the best way to teach people and keep their attention because people prefer to play than to read. 

K2 K4 I2 Jonathan Cooper