Warner Bros. Creates AIDS Prevention Game for Kenya
Warner Bros. Creates AIDS Prevention Game for Kenya
December 5, 2008
It's always great to see game tech being to put to use for purposes larger than mere entertainment.
Variety's Cut Scene blog reports that Warner Bros. Interactive will launch a free online game in Kenya designed to teach players about the risks of AIDS as well as how to prevent the spread of the disease.
The five-player game is called Pamoja Mtaani, which translates to Together in the Hood. It will target youth centers in Nairobi and features tunes from local hip-hop musicians. Pamoja Mtaani was developed by North Carolina-based Virtual Heroes, creators of America's Army.
Here's how Warner Bros. describes the game:
[Pamoja Mtaani] follows five strangers who are brought together through unforeseen circumstances, losing what is most precious to each of them. Working their way through various East African neighborhoods, players must recover the stolen items and help an injured woman on their quest. Along the way, they will experience barriers and facilitators to behavior change through a variety of missions and mini-games.
Pamoja Mtaani is an outgrowth of The Partnership For an HIV-free Generation.
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Posted 11/20/09 at 05:42pm
ZippyDSMlee: oh may the cute stab out your eyes, http://www.youtube.com/user/simonscat
ZippyDSMlee: oh may the cute stab out your eyes, http://www.youtube.com/user/simonscat
Posted 11/20/09 at 05:17pm
JDKJ: O.K. Suit yourself. But when you're wearing Ray-Bans, sitting on a curb with a white cane and a cup of pencils, and doing Stevie Wonder impersonations, don't say I didn't warn you.
JDKJ: O.K. Suit yourself. But when you're wearing Ray-Bans, sitting on a curb with a white cane and a cup of pencils, and doing Stevie Wonder impersonations, don't say I didn't warn you.
Posted 11/20/09 at 05:10pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:No thank you I don;t want your cooties...or STDs...
ZippyDSMlee: JD:No thank you I don;t want your cooties...or STDs...
Posted 11/20/09 at 05:01pm
JDKJ: Me. I'm rehearsing the role just in case I do get dubbed Zippy The Soecnda.
JDKJ: Me. I'm rehearsing the role just in case I do get dubbed Zippy The Soecnda.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:59pm
DarkSaber: Wait, is that meant to be Zippy, me or you?
DarkSaber: Wait, is that meant to be Zippy, me or you?
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:49pm
JDKJ: I cud caer lez. =^^= *wakes up in mid-afternoon after staying up until 3:00AM soldering resistors on to circuit boards, stumbles around in formerly white but now grey underwear, while simultaneously scratching groin with vigor and making coffee*
JDKJ: I cud caer lez. =^^= *wakes up in mid-afternoon after staying up until 3:00AM soldering resistors on to circuit boards, stumbles around in formerly white but now grey underwear, while simultaneously scratching groin with vigor and making coffee*
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:46pm
DarkSaber: knell? Don't you mean Neil? Anymore of tht and I'll dub thee Zippy The Soecnda
DarkSaber: knell? Don't you mean Neil? Anymore of tht and I'll dub thee Zippy The Soecnda
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:44pm
JDKJ: Now, now, Saber. Don't be salty. You weren't the first one to knell and bob and you ain't gonna be the last one, either.
JDKJ: Now, now, Saber. Don't be salty. You weren't the first one to knell and bob and you ain't gonna be the last one, either.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:42pm
DarkSaber: JD's feeling rather desperate it seems.
DarkSaber: JD's feeling rather desperate it seems.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:33pm
JDKJ: C'mon, Zip. You already touch yourself way too much. Spread the love. Before you go blind.
JDKJ: C'mon, Zip. You already touch yourself way too much. Spread the love. Before you go blind.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:27pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:No and I ain't touching any part of you or your friends!! :P
ZippyDSMlee: JD:No and I ain't touching any part of you or your friends!! :P
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:25pm
JDKJ: @Zip: You know Lik Mitaint?
JDKJ: @Zip: You know Lik Mitaint?
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:18pm
ZippyDSMlee: neill and bob,oldest giveing head joke and most lamest...
ZippyDSMlee: neill and bob,oldest giveing head joke and most lamest...
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:18pm
JDKJ: But thanks for the memory. MIB's a classic. *sings* "Here come the Men in Black. Galaxy defenders. Here come the Men in Black. They won't let you remember."
JDKJ: But thanks for the memory. MIB's a classic. *sings* "Here come the Men in Black. Galaxy defenders. Here come the Men in Black. They won't let you remember."
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:18pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:for the record I told you you can suck your own dck.
ZippyDSMlee: JD:for the record I told you you can suck your own dck.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:07pm
JDKJ: Naw, man. That's Mueedeegiaap and Bob. And you can stop bobbing. I got Zippy bobbing now, too.
JDKJ: Naw, man. That's Mueedeegiaap and Bob. And you can stop bobbing. I got Zippy bobbing now, too.
Posted 11/20/09 at 03:56pm
DarkSaber: OH I get it now! It's Men In Black quote! The twins that run the comm centre in HQ.
DarkSaber: OH I get it now! It's Men In Black quote! The twins that run the comm centre in HQ.
Posted 11/20/09 at 03:49pm
JDKJ: I'd like to introduce you to them. First, Neil. Then, Bob.
JDKJ: I'd like to introduce you to them. First, Neil. Then, Bob.
Posted 11/20/09 at 03:47pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:I know they are intimate friends of yours...
ZippyDSMlee: JD:I know they are intimate friends of yours...
Posted 11/20/09 at 03:44pm
JDKJ: @Zip: You know Neil and Bob?
JDKJ: @Zip: You know Neil and Bob?
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Comments
Or we can teach people about AIDS in health class.
--- Official Protector of Videoland!
This is for Kenyans... do you live in Kenya? Do they have health class?
I want you to go look at the literacy rate for Kenya.
Sorry, I missed the Kenya part. That's what I get for skimmimg over the story.
--- Official Protector of Videoland!
So in the game it would have choices like would you tap this women or use drugs or something like that.
I have a feeling he doesn't realize their are poor countries out there.
On another note does the game involve avoiding penises? Cause I think they could probably just ship over some prison simulators.
I was wondering if they're too poor to get education in school, how are they going to play the game?? I'm all for trying to help people out especially people in dire straights with serious problems like this but you'd think everyone would know by now that generally poor populations don't have much cash to spend on entertainment so they have sex since its free (usually :P), this is why STDs spread and why poor hoods have large population growth despite poverty, boredom = sex i tell you. For instance if you were to cut electricty to a large area, you bet your ass a bunch of couples are gonna by like, damn i'm so bored and theres no TV or anything... lets have sex! :P
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Yeah, this is kind of silly. If they can't afford a basic health class in school, who are they expecting to play the game? Are they going to set up free kiosks out in the middle of poor Kenyan neigborhoods?
And from the description of the game, I'm not sure how they teach AIDS awarness. Sounds more like an adventure game. Kenya's HIV rate has dropped from 10 to 6% in the last decade, but shared drug use and prostitution are still the leading causes for spreading. Unless the game is saying "don't use drugs and spring for a condom," I'm not sure what they hope to accomplish.
Why bother? if your average Kenyan is too stupid to understand that you can stop the spread of AIDS either by wearing a condom or simply not fucking, I really doubt a game will help.
A severe beating with a lead pipe, maybe, but not a game.
The problem is they've been "educated" that it doesn't help, it's a matter of brainwashing, not stupidity.
I have a feeling the youths who play this game will have more fun doing the things you're NOT supposed to do in the game. I think the end result will be that the game becomes a point of ridicule rather than a teaching tool, good intentions notwithstanding.
"There is no sin except stupidity." - Oscar Wilde
This should work really well....
Games prevented me from getting laid for most of high school.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety" - Benjamin Franklin
May the game spread like .. AIDS, I guess.
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"What for you bury me in the cold cold ground?" - Tasmanian devil
most people are literate and I'd probably estimate that 60% could have access to PC's to play the game.
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