Grogger Game Reminds Players Not to Cross the Road When Tipsy
Grogger Game Reminds Players Not to Cross the Road When Tipsy
December 5, 2008
It's like the arcade classic Frogger, but with a beer buzz.
Grogger, an online game developed by, believe it or not, the city council of Melbourne, Australia, is designed to remind players that it's dangerous to stagger across the road after drinking.
As reported by news.com:
The character can pick up beer bottles as they go, which slow their reaction times, while water bottles help the player continue on their way. They win if they make it across the road without getting "smashed" by a vehicle.
Melbourne City Council commissioned the game in an effort to reduce the amount of pedestrian accidents the city sees each year, 70 per cent of which result in injuries. The council estimates around 716,000 people visit the CBD each day, with more in the holiday season.
Melbourne will be holding a live Grogger event with players competing on a big screen later this month.
GP: We gave Grogger a try - sober, mind you, at the time. It's actually a lot of fun in that nostalgic, 8-bit way.
A PUBLICATION OF THE ECA
SUBSCRIBE
LOGINGamePolitics ShoutBox
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:16pm
Andrew Eisen: Shouldn't be. Spirit of anti-discrimination laws would seem to include sexual orientation (and eye color). Plus there's always equal protection and such. Never know until you try.
Andrew Eisen: Shouldn't be. Spirit of anti-discrimination laws would seem to include sexual orientation (and eye color). Plus there's always equal protection and such. Never know until you try.
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:10pm
Andrew Eisen: Should have sued (unless that wasn't an option given her financial situation or something). Might have won.
Andrew Eisen: Should have sued (unless that wasn't an option given her financial situation or something). Might have won.
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:00pm
Valdearg: Story about a Male to Female TG who was expressly told she wouldn't be given a job because she was TG. Its not the main point of the story, but explicit, perfectly legal discrimination like this exists.
Valdearg: Story about a Male to Female TG who was expressly told she wouldn't be given a job because she was TG. Its not the main point of the story, but explicit, perfectly legal discrimination like this exists.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:53pm
Valdearg: Lol, I don't know. It may very well be legal to do so. Though that might able to fall under the "race" restriction, depending on how that point is argued.
Valdearg: Lol, I don't know. It may very well be legal to do so. Though that might able to fall under the "race" restriction, depending on how that point is argued.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:51pm
Valdearg: I don't think they do have any legal recourse. I'll have to dig around, but I seriously believe that if the law doesn't specifically mention Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, they can still be discriminated against in those 29 states.
Valdearg: I don't think they do have any legal recourse. I'll have to dig around, but I seriously believe that if the law doesn't specifically mention Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, they can still be discriminated against in those 29 states.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:51pm
Andrew Eisen: Eye color isn't covered either but I doubt it would be considered legal to refuse to hire people with green eyes.
Andrew Eisen: Eye color isn't covered either but I doubt it would be considered legal to refuse to hire people with green eyes.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:48pm
Andrew Eisen: My explanation is longer than the Shoutbox will allow. Suffice to say that while those who are discriminated against do have legal recourse, anti-discrimination law should specifically cite sexual orientation so that there’s no question about it.
Andrew Eisen: My explanation is longer than the Shoutbox will allow. Suffice to say that while those who are discriminated against do have legal recourse, anti-discrimination law should specifically cite sexual orientation so that there’s no question about it.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:42pm
Valdearg: "There is no federal law that consistently protects LGBT individuals from employment discrimination; it remains legal in 29 states, and in 38 states to do so based on gender identity or expression." From the Human Rights Campaign.
Valdearg: "There is no federal law that consistently protects LGBT individuals from employment discrimination; it remains legal in 29 states, and in 38 states to do so based on gender identity or expression." From the Human Rights Campaign.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:40pm
Valdearg: @AE: Why don't you think I'm correct? I know Wiki could be flawed, but as far as it says, its up to date as of June 2009.
Valdearg: @AE: Why don't you think I'm correct? I know Wiki could be flawed, but as far as it says, its up to date as of June 2009.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:39pm
Andrew Eisen: I don't think you're right but I really don't know and don't have the time to find out. However things actually are, it's very clear how they actually should be.
Andrew Eisen: I don't think you're right but I really don't know and don't have the time to find out. However things actually are, it's very clear how they actually should be.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:34pm
Valdearg: "just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal." I would disagree. If there's no laws against it, it makes it perfectly legal. It's definitely not right, but perfectly legal to do.
Valdearg: "just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal." I would disagree. If there's no laws against it, it makes it perfectly legal. It's definitely not right, but perfectly legal to do.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:33pm
Valdearg: Meaning in 29 states, private sector discrimination against gays is perfectly legal.. Sickening.
Valdearg: Meaning in 29 states, private sector discrimination against gays is perfectly legal.. Sickening.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:33pm
Valdearg: 19 states have no protections, and another 10 only have protections for public sector jobs.
Valdearg: 19 states have no protections, and another 10 only have protections for public sector jobs.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:32pm
Andrew Eisen: Well, most businesses have equal rights policies in place and just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal. Still, no argument against adding such protections.
Andrew Eisen: Well, most businesses have equal rights policies in place and just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal. Still, no argument against adding such protections.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:28pm
Valdearg: More information. Apparently, it's worse than I actually thought.
Valdearg: More information. Apparently, it's worse than I actually thought.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:28pm
Valdearg: Check the link. Apparently, its more like 20 states that have no protections.
Valdearg: Check the link. Apparently, its more like 20 states that have no protections.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:26pm
Andrew Eisen: In the US? Not that I'm aware of. Sad if true.
Andrew Eisen: In the US? Not that I'm aware of. Sad if true.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:25pm
Valdearg: @AE: Actually, I think, at least for now, businesses can still discriminate against gays in a few states.. Something like 5 or 8. Its part of why Gay Rights Advocates are in support of the Employee Nondiscrimination Act, or ENDA.
Valdearg: @AE: Actually, I think, at least for now, businesses can still discriminate against gays in a few states.. Something like 5 or 8. Its part of why Gay Rights Advocates are in support of the Employee Nondiscrimination Act, or ENDA.
Copyright © 2007 ECA. All rights reserved.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Comments
If only they could make an effective tool to remind the aboriginals not to sleep in the middle of the street. Most don't have a problem, but for some odd reason the ones in Alice Springs make a habit of doing just that - it's so bad that they have TV ADS reminding them not to sleep on the road, though I doubt their effectiveness.
I wish I were joking.
Somehow I think the problem has more to do with drunkenness and poverty than race.
Oh, and how much more racist can you get?
Against which race?
Nido Web Flash Tutorials AS2 and AS3 Tutorials for anyone interested.
How to set Xbox 360 Parental Controls
Australian Aborigines are a class of peoples who are identified by Australian law as being members of a race indigenous to the Australian continent.
How are you finding racism in this?
Were you meaning to reply to me and my comment about the aboriginals?
If not, please disregard. If so, please understand that I'm not attempting to make a blanket statement about aboriginals, and especially not their RACE. Their culture, perhaps, but not their race. Humans have the same potential, generally, no matter where they're from, with certain minor physical differences (tendon placement, the *STUNNING* efficiency of the typical aboriginal digestive system [no really, look it up - it's amazing!], etc.) that can be easily overcome or compensated for with hard work. I don't want to say that every human is the same, as that is absolutely not true, but there are no differences so great in general between the various ethnicities that they are inherently limiting, and indeed they are usually very benificial.
The only point I was trying to make is that the cases where aboriginals in Alice Springs and the surrounding communities are killed because they fell asleep in the middle of the road are sad, and the current efforts don't seem to do much to help.
Watch out for the invisible cars, they can get you, haha.
Nido Web Flash Tutorials AS2 and AS3 Tutorials for anyone interested.
How to set Xbox 360 Parental Controls
I feel kinda weird that I was analysing it from a gameplay perspective as I was playing it. It'd be quite a bit better if you didn't immediately start walking in funny directions from just one beer -- there should be some degree of leniency, otherwise the drunk/sober mechanism serves no purpose (ie. beer is just another thing you have to dodge, because you're p.much going to die if you touch it.) But from a public service viewpoint, that's exactly the message they want to put across, so it makes sense.
Anyway, it's good for a Frogger clone I suppose.
---
The Mammon Industry
Australia? Weird, since their politicians just hate videogames....
The cynical side of videogames (spanish only): http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com/
One word: Jaywalking
--- Official Protector of Videoland!
Ironically, jaywalking is the safest way to cross a street, unlike those designated crosswalks... Other fun facts are that roads with bends or curves are safter than straight roads, roundabouts are safter than intersections, and thin roads are safer than wide roadways.
I guess it's OK to play as an intoxicated character in this game, but not in GTA.
That is because this is sponsered by the government. As we all know the government only sponsers good things while the video game industry only creates evil things. It is simple really.
If the government wants to create a training simulator to train people to successfully cross busy roads while drunk, they must have a good reason. But video game companies only make those kinds of simulators to destroy our youth and culture.
E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1325674091
"...it's dangerous to stagger across the road after drinking."
Easy to remember while sober, tougher to remember while you're staggering across the road after drinking.
"There is no sin except stupidity." - Oscar Wilde