Docu-Gamesgames &

monetization at the edges of reality and

fiction

Georg Hobmeier

Frontiers

• Half-Life 2 Mod• „Refugee Game“• Extensive research• Released in 2010

Since 2014: Causa Creations

• Social awareness games for NGOs & museums

• Indie game aesthetics & game design

• Strong focus on research• Unique donation

mechanics

- Historical ARPG - Based on the

history of Berlin‘s Ethnological Museum

- Lots of shooting and riding canoes

Totem‘s Sound

Prototypes!

• Experiments• Narrative formats• Political

communication• Game jams!

The Resource Paradox• Casual strategy game• Part of Amnesty‘s

Coal Scam campaign• Portraying the

struggle of India‘s Adivasi tribes

• Raising funds, but also awareness

Burn The Boards• Mobile game about the

struggle of Indian e-waste recyclers

• The story of a „Dalit“ that was chased off his land

• "Burn the Boards aims the Papers, Please format at India's poor working conditions" Pocket Gamer

Burn The BoardsBurn The Boards• Research project with Technical University of Vienna• Project partner Action for World Solidarity• Fundraising as an additional task / research topic

Burn The BoardsBurn The Boards• Puzzle gameplay to show dangers of work with toxic

elements

Burn The BoardsBurn The Boards• Simulation gameplay to portray social aspects

Gamers & Donations?

• Athene raised 15 M $

• Dedicated fundraising games like Half the Sky

• Humble Bundle raised more then 65 M $

The Donation Market• USA: 290 Bn $ in 2012

(Austria: 600 M $)• Amnesty Austria spends

approx. 1.6 M € to raise 6.2 € M (in 2013)

• Growing market in global South

Monetization in Burn The Boards

• Revenue sharing with NGO

• IAP: Premium Items• Interstitials:

Telemarketing with Ms Chopra (Admob)

• Direct donations (Apple)

What happens with the money?

• Support of local NGOs in India

• Adressing directly the portrayed problems

Does it work?• New emotional quality of IAPs• „Dual-benefit“ ads• Great press• Google Grants• … but it‘s just a research project

Future Projects• Resource Paradox - fundraising for Amnesty• Contract development & prototyping• More experiments!• Snitch – political adventure game

Thanks for listening!

Georg Hobmeier@mercurylegba

www.causacreations.netwww.burntheboards.net