This document discusses using games to address social issues. It summarizes a conference on socially engaged games that featured over 30 games, 40 speakers, and 250 attendees. The conference discussed how to create compelling games that focus on important problems, identify a hero seeking a goal but facing obstacles, and include a transformative resolution. The document provides an example flash fiction applying this framework to the problem of income inequality.

1. Fairytales of Inequality
A Simple Framework for Creating Compelling, Socially-Engaged Games
Jakub Zgierski, Games for Impact Warsaw // FINA
Agnieszka Mulak, MoaCube
Jan Cieślar, Failcore

4. 30+ games showcased
40+ speakers, including:
Asi Burak – Games for Change
Jurriaan van Rijswijk – Games for Health Europe
Amy&Ryan Green – That Dragon Cancer
Francois Rizzo – 11-11 Memories Retold
Lukas Kolek – Attentat 1942
Sinan Turnacioglu – Floreo
250+ attendees
Devs, investors, policy makers, media,
researchers
50+ media articles
Estimated reach of 1 mln

5. – Jakub Zgierski, Games for Impact Warsaw –

7. A story is not what happened

11. HERO

12. HERO
GOAL

13. HERO
GOAL
OBSTACLES

14. HERO
GOAL
OBSTACLES
RESOLUTIO
N

19. Problem:
Hero:
Goal:
Obstacles (3):
Transformative force:
Resolution:
FLASH FICTION!

20. Problem:
Hero:
Goal:
Obstacles (3):
Transformative force:
Resolution:
income inequality
college student
pay off student loan
wrong degree, gig economy, slutshaming
embracing work ethics
slaving at the academia

21. – Agnieszka Mulak, MoaCube –

22. – Jan Cieślar, Failcore –

23. Choose the genre
Make an exciting
- Shooter about love
- Strategy about depression
- Endless runner about
immobility

24. Make the game
Consider
- Who’s the player
- What’s the goal
- What are the obstacles

25. Play the Gameplay
Consider
- What are the genre
standards
- What can you change
- How will you sell it?