Oppression of Third-World Women: The Game

It was impossible to resist writing that headline, but here’s what it relates to: the contention by New York Times Op-Ed columnist Nicholas Kristof that online games can actually create “an entry point” into understanding of deep issues that even his best columns can’t do, when those games work to create empathy for the plight of others. As far as the oppressed women, he’s tying their situations into a game to help spur interest in the new book he’s written with his wife, titled: “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide.” His inspiration was a game sponsored by MTV, Darfur Is Dying, in which game players are captured by the militia and much worse. I’ve embedded a clip of Kristof’s speech, which he gave at the recent Games for Change Festival, from 3-Minute Ad Age. Though it promotes Kristof as saying digital games are the new journalism, I couldn’t find any evidence in this snippet that that’s what he said.