Gaming Goes Green!
As you should know, we at Little Guy Games believe that games have the power to transform not only the human mind but the world we’re living in as well. Fortunately, we are not alone – more and more developers share this mindset, and we can see a growing trend of Green Gaming spreading around the world!
The power of games
Undoubtedly and without exaggerating, we can say that the video games industry is taking over the world. There are an estimated 2.7 billion gamers worldwide, and the industry is forecasted to exceed $200 billion by 2023. The gaming industry has thrived over the last few years and is expected to outgrow both the music and movie industry pretty soon. We can list multiple reasons for this precedence, but one of the main factors is the global COVID-19 pandemic when more people than ever before were spending time indoors, playing games. These results are impressive, but what I would especially like to pay attention to in this piece are the opportunities that open up to the entire gaming industry due to its growing popularity. Games don’t have to be just a medium for entertainment anymore – they can also help us care for the planet, all without leaving our homes. The opportunity to do some good might literally be just a few clicks away!
What is Green Gaming?
Before I delve any more in-depth into this topic, let’s cover the basics, shall we?
What does Green Gaming actually mean? We can look at this issue from several angles:
Saving energy
Did you know that typically, gaming consoles consume about 16 billion kilowatt-hours of energy per year? That is enough power to serve the entire city of San Diego! Gaming console plastic is another big issue. Production of over 100 million consoles per year equals the greenhouse gas emissions of more than 9000 cars!
Some gaming companies have already acknowledged this issue and are continuously implementing greener solutions, such as:
– using cardboard in the packaging and working on more energy-efficient gaming computers
– offering streaming option through TV consoles and services
– swapping high-resolution and power-consuming games fro streaming HD instead
– adding an energy-saving mode to consoles (PS4, PS5, the latest version of Xbox One)
Change & educate through play!
Of course, green gaming means much more than just saving energy and eco-friendly packaging! What I like the most about this trend because it shows that protecting the environment can be exciting and easy at the same time!
Imagine a virtual world filled with immersive gameplay and action – would you mind having some educational green nudges in there as well? I for sure wouldn’t!
In fact, several video game companies have done it already:
– “Awesome Possum” – a classic title, where you get to travel through four fairy worlds:
Rain Forest, Arctic Circle, Sea Caverns and Dr. Machino’s Domain, and your mission is to save the world from an evil mega-polluter!
– “The Sims” – is there anyone here who doesn’t know this one?;) In June 2020, developers added an “Eco Lifestyle”, expansion pack that introduces players to Evergreen Harbor, where Sims have a direct and actual impact on the environment’s state. They can produce their electricity, grow their food and even go dumpster dice! Sounds pretty cool, eh? This expansion pack reminds us that we leave eco-footprint whatever we do, and as in the game, as in real life, we will have to live with the consequences of our actions.
– “Angry Birds” – or as one can say: a short tale about how deforestation made the birds really angry! This is yet another excellent example of how games can educate the players in a fun way! In 2020 Angry Birds 2
held an in-game event to raise awareness for climate change and reforestation. For a limited time, players could collect a new Forester hat set and embellish their gathering of characters in a truly-eco way! What’s more, the initiative directed players to the United Nations Trillion Tree Campaign, an action to plant one trillion trees by the end of the decade!
These are only a few examples out of many more out there, so if you are on a hunt for even more green titles, go to Games4Sustainability and find your favourite.
Towards a greener future!
Lots of examples and initiatives clearly show that the gaming industry is, indeed, moving toward a greener future – slowly but surely! Of course, it is not always easy, and the progress might be slow as there’s a dependency between performance and wastage that manufacturers have to deal with every single day. However, the game is on (pun intended!), and the ball is rolling! I, for once, can’t wait to see what innovations are still in store for the players around the world and how game developers will use this chance to inspire them on so many new levels!
As real supporters of this great cause, we are cooking up something aligned with the Green Gaming Initiative as well! The upcoming unannounced mobile title that we are currently working on will support many eco-initiatives in a charming and engaging way, and we can’t wait to share more news about it with you! Stay tuned for more!
