A serious game on social engagement

It's not easy to be a source of change. Wanting to make the world a better place requires going against the grain of common thinking, surrounding yourself with allies, and not getting discouraged despite the pitfalls.

Things that are not often told to younger people, yet would let them know that it is possible to be a vehicle for improving this world.

A humorous allegory

That's the idea behind "I love potatoes," a serious mobile/browser game by Vali Fugulin in collaboration with Ruben Farrus and developer Minority. The game aimed at late elementary or early high school kids is meant to be a humorous allegory about our world and how to change it.

The player will lead Chips, a charming sprite living in an environment that focuses only on potatoes. It is indeed potatoes that are the center of life in his village. With these, they eat of course, but especially give a large part of the tubers to a nice giant monster who feeds on them. In exchange, he provides the inhabitants with goods such as televisions, building materials, etc.

Or, from eating so much, the beast ends up becoming gigantically overweight, forcing Chips to bring new ideas to the village and make friends who will follow in its wake.

The adventure is a mix of point and click and the Pikmin game system, a Nintendo series, in which a cosmonaut controls small beings in order to collect large set pieces or knock down obstacles. In fact, Chips will have to make friends at times to succeed in advancing in the story. Nothing too complicated, however, since all you have to do is click on those with a big yellow exclamation mark above their heads to get their services.

Simple and instructive

This is actually the game's biggest flaw: its linearity makes it terribly simple to play. There is no real challenge since everything is pointed out to the player. However, the allegory about capitalism and its effects on the environment are very subtle.

Rather than just creating another game about sustainable actions to take, the title suggests attitudes to have in order to be a positive source of transformation in one's community.

Also, once the game is finished, the game gives examples of people who have been vectors of change. In fact, the NFB website also provides fact sheets on these people and educational activities to integrate the serious game into the classroom. The game is available in many languages including English, German, French and even Quebec.