Ecotopia, a new social networking game in which players advance via virtual and real-world environmentally friendly actions, includes CEPF as one of its “Ecotopian Heroes.”
Developed by gaming company Talkie, Ecotopia was launched on Earth Day, April 22. It is the first free-to-play game with conservation at its heart, expanding on the "city-building" model of popular games like SimCity and FarmVille. Players work to transform dirty, uninhabitable virtual environments into pleasant, sustainable landscapes. It includes built-in ways in which players can connect with their friends. And in a first for social gaming, players are encouraged and empowered to do environmental good in the real world—and get rewarded for it in the world of Ecotopia. Each month a new mission-driven eco-story board can be unlocked, and each story board features a new villain to overcome.
The concept behind Ecotopia, with the potential to drive millions of real-life green acts monthly, is that players receive points in the game for conservation acts performed in the real world. To garner additional points, players can upload photos of these acts, which may then be featured on EcotopiaTV. This innovation, new to the social gaming world, has been specifically designed to further awareness, integration opportunities, engagement and activation in green living from game players. It showcases websites and videos from Ecotopian Hero organizations like CEPF, communicating our message to an engaged global audience. It also features user-generated contest entries, photos and video.
To start playing and get the word out about environmentally friendly living, click here.