Press

February, 2012

This has been translated from the original portuguese. To read the original article please click here.

Combining gaming and social causes has turned out to be a very effective way to engage players on Facebook and a great way to raise funds for philanthropic causes. Last year, Zynga raised money through some of their games to benefit victims of the earthquakes in Japan and Haiti. Today, we are seeing increasing use of social games for philanthropic initiatives.

The startup Good World Games is developing games for Facebook whose sole objective it is to combine the power of humanitarian causes with the virality of social gaming. Their first game is called MyConservationPark and it aims to have players protect animals from human and environmental threats while creating a sustainable habitat with diverse fauna and flora.

There are two game modes for players to choose from. In Play mode, new challenges appear continuously and players must overcome them to save and protect their endangered species. In this mode, ecosystem and hero health directly affect the players’ performance and ability to deal with these challenges.

In Decorate mode players can create a biodiverse environment for their species by adding animals, trees, water, food, sheds and other elements. In this mode players can purchase rangers, native species, watchtowers and even insects.

All in-game purchases of virtual items in MyConservationPark directly benefit Good World Games’ charity partners with 15% of revenue donated to selected causes. Each park benefits a different non-profit partner. Some project partners are: the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, Sea Shepherd, WildAid and Orangutan Outreach. Players are able to see what percentage of revenue has been donated to each non-profit.

Games Aims to Make a Difference Giving Through Fun

Founded in 2010, Good World Games is a software company dedicated to creating games for good. The first product created is called

MyConservationPark, which is a virtual wildlife game that incorporates endangered species and habitats into its narrative. The game supports the non-profit partners of Good World Games which includes The Dian Fossey Gorilla fund, WildAid and Sea Shepherd.

“We believe in the power of for-profit companies to drive innovation and we also believe in the power of our non-profit partners to stir the passions of our community of players,” Good World Games states in their mission statement in true social business fashion.

Many students spend vast amounts of time on social media and gaming, often raising the ire of parents and educators. For those tied to Facebook, Good World Games offers a welcome alternative to the ‘mindless’ games children often play on the site. The My Conservation Park Facebook game (better suited for students’ spare time than in class, of course) allows players to learn about ecological interdependence and biodiversity, while supporting conservation efforts. Players manage a wildlife conservation park for endangered animals––they must create and maintain suitable habitat by introducing plants and animals, eliminating threats such as poachers, hiring park rangers and even tranquilizing animals for tagging. each plant or animal has a life cycle and needs to be tended to daily Players use “conservation cash” to buy the things they need to sustain their parks. This virtual currency is either purchased with real money (adults will need to assist here) or earned through interaction with advertisers. 15% of what players spend in the game goes to partnering wildlife conservation organizations. -– (JHayes)

Games in and of themselves are great; but games that also do good are awesome. Good World Games had the crazy idea that maybe games are more than about having fun and entertaining your brain for a few minutes here a few hours there, although that is important stuff. What if games can change the way people behave in their real world lives? What if games can get people reflexively helping out noble causes as naturally as they do laundry, brush their teeth, or drive to work? What if giving just became apart of what we do everyday?

The game is also educational, teaching children the importance of environmental and animal conservation and their own responsibility in caring for the Earth.

This philosophy of “gaming for social good” has taken off in recent years, with games popping up seeking to tackle issues of hunger, poverty, community cohesion, environmental sustainability and education. Toronto-based Good World Games recently released My Conservation Park, a socially conscious game that sees players build and manage a wildlife reserve.

Mark Evans profiles us in The Globe & Mail!

Serial entrepreneur Greg Sukornyk looked at the activities of charities online and the growing popularity of online gaming, and figured there was an opportunity to marry them in a way that could benefit charities while still entertaining game players. Since the first game was launched a couple of months ago…more than 10,000 people have played, while the non-profits involved have been enthusiastic about the concept and business model.

Captain Paul Watson of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and the TLC show Whale Wars officially endorsed the social game, MyConservationPark. Through a partnership with Sea Shepherd, developer Good World Games will donate 15% of earnings to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

Thank you to Priti at Ecopreneurist for the great piece!

MyConservationPark is a Facebook game, like Farmville but with a social purpose. Developed by Toronto-based Good World Games, the idea behind this game is an imaginative business model that can make a lasting difference.

Sustainable business site Justmeans writes about MyConservationPark!

The recently released social network game, My Conservation Park, uses social innovation to help save the planet. Launched this June, it allows the players to donate to the real world from their game purchases. Good World Games, the developers, pledge 15 percent donations to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, WildAid [and other conservation nonprofits]…all with the mission to help preserve a variety of wildlife, particularly gorillas.

This social innovation game can be played on Facebook. It revolves around players trying to protect the endangered gorilla from environmental and human threats, while at the same time adding native flora and fauna to the area in an effort to create a sustainable habitat. My Conservation Park is both fun and educational, allowing players to manage a variety of virtual parks supporting the protection of diverse endangered wildlife. So far over 4,600 people have “liked” this game on Facebook and the developers are hoping it will become a hit like Zynga’s Farmville.

Thanks you TorontoThumbs for writing such nice things about MyConservationPark!

My Conservation Park is a Facebook game that attempts to bridge the gap between the web and reality in a different way. Developed by Toronto-based Good World Games (they have an office in Liberty Villate), the premise is to run your own conservation park which would, inevitably, show a real-world difference by contributing part of the game revenue to a non-profit partner’s conservation program.

There are lots of features to keep players hooked like daily lotteries (that can result in conservation cash being added to your bank account) and challenges. There are tons of facts about the different flora and fauna in the game, so it’s an ideal candidate for keeping kids busy (so long as you make sure they don’t spend your real money without permission).

I think that Good World Games is doing something great with this title. I hope it makes a difference because we could use more positivity on this planet!

Our first coverage in a newspaper! Proud to say we got a writeup in The Independent, one of the most influential U.K. newspapers!

The trend for social networking games with positive real world environmental impacts continues with the recently released gorilla saving game My Conservation Park.

The game revolves around players trying to protect an endangered animal from environmental and human threats while at the same time adding native flora and fauna to the area in an effort to create a sustainable habitat.

Via EarthTechling.Thanks for telling people about the game!

While Facebook games are generally more known for wasting your time than helping to save the world, My Conservation Park aims to help the well-intentioned “play it forward” by funding real-world conservation efforts based on virtual participation.

This latest effort from Good World Games, part of a partnership with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, challenges players to protect their “heroes” from an increasing number of human and environmental threats (including those tied to humanity’s ever-growing carbon footprint). In recompense for these virtual good deeds, players are rewarded with cash and karma.

Our favourite piece of press so far. Thanks Salvatore Cardoni!

This game, and games like it, tap into that eternal human truth: we’re lazy, yo. We are. You know it. I know it. And your Aunt Hilda knows it each time she hollers into the basement for her son—your 39-year old cousin—to stop playing Red Dead Redemption, get off his kiester, and cut the grass.

I, and 99 percent of the people I know, will never travel to the jungles of Africa to fistfight gorilla poachers with our bare knuckles. But give us a device, enough Cool Ranch Doritos and Diet Coke to last the weekend, and plenty of wet wipes to keep our fingertips spic-and-span, and we’re happy to game it up ‘till our hearts content for a good gorilla cause.

Thanks to Sien at GreenLAGirl for the kind words!

I have a tough time getting into Facebook games — which may be a good thing, since I already waste enough time on that social networking site. But for those of you with time to kill, two new eco-minded games just launched on Facebook!

The second: My Conservation Park, created by Good World Games with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, lets you pretend you’re running a park, where cute little animals are always under threat from poachers, fires, and other disasters. Best part of this game? The little mini-games that pop up, which are kind of fun. The first had me tag tigers that popped up from behind foliage, Whac-A-Mole style. Sadly, I discovered I am really horrible at tagging animals — I had to tag 10 tigers within a minute, and the task took me four tries!

If Zynga’s past donations to Haiti, Japan and other ailing nations have taught us anything, it’s the enormous capacity for Facebook games to help others in need. But Good World Games has decided to extend that good will towards others in social gaming to animals, namely gorillas.

Its newest game is called My Conservation Park, and the developer has joined in partnerships with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, WildAid and three more organizations to donate 15 percent of the profits from all in-game purchases to helping those organizations save a wide variety of endangered wildlife.

However, it’s up to you to make donations through the game’s primary currency, simply known as Gold. But we bet after one look at those adorable cartoon animals—or the extra information (and video courtesy of Sigourney Weaver) Good World Games provides—you’ll start reaching for the old wallet. The only thing this game needs is a cameo from Alanis Morissette.

While Facebook games are generally more known for wasting your time than helping to save the world, My Conservation Park aims to help the well-intentioned “play it forward” by funding real-world conservation efforts based on virtual participation.

This latest effort from Good World Games, part of a partnership with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, challenges players to protect their “heroes” from an increasing number of human and environmental threats (including those tied to humanity’s ever-growing carbon footprint). In recompense for these virtual good deeds, players are rewarded with cash and karma.

The studio’s first game, MyConservationPark is an innovative, planet-friendly social game allowing players to nurture their own virtual wildlife preserves based on real threatened species and habitats, while directly supporting non-profit organizations such as The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, Sea Shepherd and WildAid.

As the player, your mission is simple. You need to protect an endangered animal – your “hero” – from environmental and human threats while enriching the park with fauna and flora to create a sustainable habitat. Successfully conquer these challenges and balance the Eco-system and you will be rewarded with points and cash. Fail to do so and your hero and the Eco-system will suffer. When you purchase goods from the in-game store such as structures or animals, 15% of the revenue will be donated to our non-profit partners.

Social games are commonplace now. Socially conscious games? Not so much.

But Toronto’s Good World Games is the maker of MyConservationPark, a Facebook game that is similar to Farmville, but with a purpose: to save the real world.

In the game, you build your own virtual park and 15% of virtual money is donated to real-life non-profit organizations that protect land and save endangered species.

Given that the game’s YouTube video has just a single dislike out of nearly 8,000 views, it’s clear that people can agree with the idea of contributing to charities and helping protect the planet by playing games on Facebook.

Thanks to our friends at Facebook Games List for the kind words!

Actually the best thing about this game is the intention and goal to call attention to the problem of endangered species, on the other hand it is a rather educational game, featuring lots and detailed information and facts about each of the parks present in the game, and about each of the organizations, just visits the Parks and take a look around, the game also provides direct links to each of the organization’s Web Sites.

Sociability MyConsevationPark is very nicely implemented , because you can actually work and help out in your friend’s parks, just can’t decorate. You also have trophies to win and Karma to compare with your friends.

As for diversity and items, the game as lots of different animals, plants, structures and other items, more than enough for each player to do whatever they wish in the parks.

Thanks to Pelpina at WebBeatTV for the feature, and the kind words.

If you play [MyConservationPark], you’re directly supporting the Fossey Gorilla Fund, WildAid and SeaShepherd! I’m a big fan of Sea Shepherd, and by playing the game, 15% will be donated to Sea Shepherd and other organizations. Pretty cool!

Thanks to Dave at Indie Game News for featuring us on the site!

There’s an abundance of online social games right now but how many social games are doing good for the world? Enter MyConservationPark, an innovative new social game with a planet-friendly aim.

In the Gorilla Park, your “hero” must be protected from an ever-growing number of human and environmental threats raiding their habitat. Conquer these challenges successfully and you will be rewarded with cash and karma. Enrich your hero’s habitat and balance the eco-system by buying native flora and fauna. Hire staff like rangers and veterinarians to defend your hero and keep the habitat sustainable. Good World Games donates 15% of player in-game purchases directly to The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. Friends can visit each other’s parks to help protect and better each other’s conservation habitats.

Thanks to the good folks at Game Coins for the lovely feature on their YouTube channel. Go check ‘em out on Facebook too!

While nothing replaces actively being on the scene to help struggling animals, this virtual game helps endangered animals by providing funds to conservation groups. Moreover, the game conveys a positive message about animals and the environment, which can persuade players to become more animal conscious.

By educating players, Good World Games has the power to make its users more aware of the animal causes. Furthermore, these pro-animal games can help instill a sense of animal activism and a fondness for animals, especially in younger generations.

If you want to have some fun and help animals, try checking out World Games and its MyConservationPark Facebook game.

Full disclaimer: this post was written by our communications intern Annie, but she still had to run this by editors who approved it. MyConservationPark is a trend!

My Conservation Park is one of the games that lends to the social-media gaming pattern. Over the years, social games such as NightClub City and Restaurant City flooded Facebook, giving players a chance to build their dream world.

However, with My Conservation Park by Good World Games, you can go beyond building your own park. With this game, you are also helping to save endangered species around the world. This game will donate 15% of your virtual earnings to non-profit organization such as WWF and the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.

The great Inside Social Games blog posted about us last week, we’re proud to say. Here’s what they had to say:

Social games startup Good World Games is looking to give players a means to help endangered species through its first Facebook game, MyConservationPark. Fifteen percent of virtual goods purchased in-game will be donated to programs such as the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, Sea Shepherd, WildAid, and Orangutan Outreach

Social Gaming Does Good

The kind folks at Videoactive Report covered MyConservationPark in their latest video. Fast forward to 0.48 to see our segment!

Thanks to Deborah Basset and Richard Zimmerman at Orangutan Outreach for making this happen!

Last week, Good World Games and Orangutan Outreach announced their partnership in MyConservation Park’s orangutan mission — a new Facebook game that allows players to manage their own orangutan park while helping to save orangutans in the real world.

MyConservationPark links virtual parks to those in the real world, creating an innovative social game with a
planet-friendly mission: protecting endangered species and habitats. Finally, an interactive game with a purpose!

According to Orangutan Outreach Director, Richard Zimmerman:

“We are thrilled to be partnering up with Good World Games on this exciting new online venture. Connecting with the gaming community on Facebook will definitely be a win-win for players and orangutans! Raising awareness via MyConservationPark will have an enormous impact on the lives of orangutans in the wild as well as those being cared for in real-life rescue centers.”

Carolyn Glatz at GEARFUSE had some nice things to say about us and our games.

…at least one Facebook gaming company has committed to making the world a cleaner and more environmentally-friendly place. Good World Games is focused on integrating an engaging Facebook gaming experience with results-based social causes.

Web marketing and business gurus at Makibie had some nice things to say about MyConservationPark recently. Thanks for the kind words!

This game not only raises funds for planet-conscious organizations, but it gives users insight into how difficult it is to protect and save endangered species. The game presents challenges to the users and also provides informative videos about population growth and endangered species.

There is a strong power within the world of social gaming, and by adding a planet-friendly cause, the passion of the gamers may not only raise funds for endangered species, but also increase awareness of how humans are affecting the planet.

Thanks to Leena for spreading the word. If you support animal conservation, please Like, reblog, share with a friend.

Startup Good World Games is developing Facebook games devoted purely to marrying the power of causes with the viral explosion of social gaming. The startup’s first Facebook game, MyConservationPark, allows you to protect an endangered animal from environmental and human threats while enriching the park with fauna and flora to create a sustainable habitat.

Thanks to Andrew Webster at Gamezebo for writing a preview of the game. He had some wonderful things to say:

The idea of building and maintaining an animal conservation has the potential to not only be fun but also educational.

It’s a game that attempts to raise awareness of issues of sustainability as you clean up and maintain a wildlife conservation. A percentage of in-game purchases are even donated to various charities.

We’re working every day to make the game better. Stay tuned.

Early coverage of Good World Games at National Geographic!

The CEO of Good World Games, Greg Sukornyk, posted his idea for an online game based on managing a conservation park.

Early coverage of the Good World Games’ movement at Forbes @stevenbertoni:

One pitch, from Good World Games, purposes a social game where players protect the ocean from man-made attacks–most likely coming from Zynga’s Farmville which is no doubt dumping digital fertilizer and animal waste into virtual oceans worldwide.