Joie Sullivan
Staff Writer
If anyone was unable to get outside this Earth Day to plant a tree or otherwise pro- mote the preservation of our planet, fret not, because there are many plant saving video games available in substitute.
“Garbage Dreams” is an online game based on the award-winning documentary of the same name. The game requires the player to take on the same recycling habits of the Zaballeen people who live in Cairo, Egypt. The Zaballeen recycle 80% of the garbage they create.
“Garbage Dreams” gives the player eight months to raise Cairo’s overall recycling rate by sorting garbage into several different bins, the food dish of a hungry goat, or into the trash can. The game gives insight into how much garbage Americans throw away that can actually be recycled or reused.
If the gamer is looking for something
a little more productive, check out “Free Rice”. Created by the World Food Pro- gram, “Free Rice” donates 10 grains of rice through the program for every question answered correctly. Options range from 18 different subjects, including pre- algebra, chemical symbols, and even SAT prep.
Since its launch in 2007, the World Food Program has donated over 91 billion grains of rice to end world hunger. “Free Rice” is a great way to kill time, save the planet, and even exercise your brain.
With “Third World Farmer” one can experience how the other half lives when they can manage their own African farm. The player will endure hardships such as bad harvests, civil wars, guerilla raids, and other misfortunate happenings that occur in third world countries, all while trying to keep food on the table for the
family. “Third World Farmer” plays out similar
to the popular Facebook game “Farmville” as the player chooses which crops to plant and even purchase livestock and upgrades for the farm. The game ends when either all of player’s family members leave the farm, or die. The game makes the player question their decisions, as well as gain awareness for poverty in third world coun- tries.
If getting away from your cubicle for some Earth saving fun, was impossible, then play a few of these games during your lunch break. You can find “Garbage Dreams” at www.pbs.org/indepen- dentlens/garbage_dreams/game, “Free Rice” at www.freerice.com, and “Third World Farmer” at
www.3rdworldfarmer.com.
