U.S. Consulate General Osaka-Kobe: Games for Social Change Program

Overview

The U.S. Consulate General Osaka-Kobe of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to design, implement, and oversee a workshop and game jam targeting Japanese game developers and game development students and offering them guidance on how to create games and digital experiences that integrate issues of importance to the United States, Japan, and the Indo-Pacific region.

Priority Region: Japan (Kansai) 

Program Objectives: Proposals should seek to convene 50-70 skilled gaming industry professionals and game design students for a four-day program comprised of a two-day workshop led by American and local experts on designing games with social messages followed by a two-day game jam during which participants form teams and conceptualize games that could address pressing issues facing the region. Some examples of topics that games could raise awareness of include (but are not limited to) climate change, disinformation, civic engagement, women’s empowerment, diversity and inclusion, and more. Programs proposals should also integrate a final pitching competition and budget micro-grants that allow select games to be developed to completion. 

In the same way that public diplomacy programs in the past have sought to build capacity among filmmakers, media, musicians, and documentarians, this program seeks to enhance the capacity and ability of game makers, storytellers, and digital artists to employ their unique skills to achieve social change. In addition to sessions with expert game designers and narrative specialists, program proposals should also integrate sessions with local experts who can offer thoughts on how gamification could help them to better advocate for their causes and tell their stories. 

The proposed workshop will focus on introducing existing and aspiring young game developers to the concept of designing games for social change and equipping them with the technical and narrative skillsets to design compelling interactive experiences. The program should also provide participants with nuanced background knowledge on critical social issues facing their communities that could be highlighted through a gaming medium. 

Participants and Audiences: Game design professions, game design students, or those in gaming-adjacent disciplines (artists, storytellers, programmers, etc) based in the Kansai region of Japan.

Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding.

Cost sharing is encouraged, but not required.