The Rules of the Game

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The July 13, 2007 edition of the Wall Street Journal Online reported on a new video game called Karma Tycoon designed to teach kids about “fiscal responsibility and social entrepreneurship.”*  Web-based youth organization Do Something and JPMorgan Chase teamed up to bring us a game in which

The more good you do … the more Karma you get!  The more Karma you get, the more grants your not-for-profit is eligible for .... the more money you get, the more good you can do!  The more good you do … the more Karma you get!  The more Karma you have, the bigger of a Karma Tycoon you will be!!

Noimsayin?  Good, good.  Stay with me.  According to Do Something CEO Nancy Lublin, “Karma Tycoon is like a vitamin in a Twinkie.”

Twinkalicious!

Coming out at the end of this month is a new arcade-style game for inner-city kids that teaches them the rules of American civic life.  Playfully called Bootstraps by its creators, the main screen is tilted to suggest an uneven playing field.  On level one (“Mettle Detectors”), players use their joysticks to avoid falling fragments of decaying school buildings.  Intermediate levels challenge kids with monsters like the enchantress Mainstream Medea who attempts to demoralize players by flashing images of “illegals” and “welfare queens.”  Heavily armored Rightwingthink Tanks chase players down tracks that require them to execute dangerous, life-sapping, maneuvers called “Bell Curves.”  The game ends when a player reaches level ten with a few Dignity Points intact.

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* “‘Tis Not Simple to Give Gifts” by Christian C. Sahner

Comments

[Ilona Selber]

I found Karma Tycoon and tried playing it. Pretty boring. Does Bootstraps really exist?

[Stuart Johnson]

Thanks for dropping by, Ilona. I also played Karma Tycoon (readers: make sure you have the latest Flash player, version 9-point-something). I wondered whether it might give young people a distorted view of the Third Sector. With about 50 clicks of the mouse and barely a thought you can establish a fully-equipped 30-bed homeless shelter on the Columbus riverfront and raise tens of thousands of dollars from eager foundations. Maybe the higher levels get more interesting. It'd be good to hear from other players.

As for Bootstraps: It really exists, but it's not a game.

[Phil]

Well put, Mr. Ruesga. You will get yourself on FOX News soon enough. Then you can play Bootstrap in earnest.

[div]

I m really game freak.One of my friend told me about the site which got lots of arcade games .It brought back beyond memories.I really enjoyed specially playing action arcade games , so i thought to share it .I know gamelovers will love it .

http://www.fastarcade.com

[div]

I m really game freak.One of my friend told me about the site which got lots of arcade games .It brought back beyond memories.I really enjoyed specially playing action arcade games , so i thought to share it .I know gamelovers will love it .

http://www.fastarcade.com

[Armastevs]

Remember back in the day when you had to pay a quarter to play your favorite games and have some snot nosed kid bugging you while trying to play your Arcade Games? well now you can play them for free in the privacy of your own home! http://www.Armastevs.com Have fun guys!