OurCity launched in beta version

OurCity a Facebook social game, aimed at developing Jordanians civic knowledge, awareness and motivation to becoming engaged citizens, has been released in Arabic and English in a beta version.

OurCity is the fruit of understanding both the challenges and oppurtunities that can be created in a country where more than 60% of the population is under the age of 30, coupling that with the ever increasing usage of Facebook. OurCity has been developed to empower young people to become engaged citizens who work together to make their communities a better place.

The game was created through IYCE (the Innovations for Youth Capacity and Engagement), funded by USAID in collaboration NetHope. With the contribution of many other organisations such as UN-Habitat, Social Games Universe (Canadian gaming company). In addition to Jordanian companies and NGOs including; Al Nasher, Gate2Play, Curlstone Studios, Jordan Gaming Lab, Jordan Education for Employment, Jordan Green Building Council, Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, Jordan River Foundation, and Partners Jordan.

Ms. Rama Halaseh provided civic education content. Finally, the project is implemented and monitored by Arizona State University’s Center for Games and Impact.

Players, are required to develop and maintain a virtual Jordanian city in their capacity as mayor. Players will be building an entire city and manage its increasing population by providing energy, education healthcare and public transportation. 

Young players are expected to have an increased awareness about civic concepts, such as the importance of civic engagement and the roles and responsibilities of citizens and public officials. Civic engagements featured in the game include; 

• Talking to citizens: where each citzen will offer their different perspective on a city-management topic. which aims at showing player the vitality of their opinion in desicion making.  
   
• Decision quests: The quests often juxtapose matters of budget or economic growth with public services or infrastructural change. 
   
• City Hall meetings and committees: This task's goal is to emphasize the importance of City Hall meetings as an avenue of municipal government communication and increasing public approval.
   
• Public approval: The goal of public approval is to provide players with feedback about their decisions and actions throughout the game. 
   
• Idea gem: Idea gems are positive ideas that spread through the community and encourage change. 
   
• Video micro-engagement: This quest type asks players to view a short YouTube video provided by an OurCity partner—typically one to five minutes long. Videos cover a number of topics but are focused on reinforcing the game’s learning goals.
   
• “Did You Know” (DYK) moments: At various points in the game, players are provided with pop-ups, entitled “Did You Know” moments, that deliver useful “real world” information related to game content. 
   
• Real world activities: As noted earlier, another important feature of the game is providing information to players on actual events or activities organized by local Jordanian partners. Players are encouraged to participate in these civic events and receive “in-game” rewards for doing so.

Click here to start playing the game, you can learn more about the game by clicking on the link here.