While many people talk about the importance of saving the environment, very few really take on the proactive role in addressing the issue. Not many of them, in fact, know that switching from disposable plastic bottles to reusable ones can create a big overall impact in preserving the resources of our planet.
With this in mind, a Facebook game application was launched, geared towards educating people about the concepts of carbon footprint, cleaner and renewable sources of energy and how being responsible and mindful of their activities could help achieve this end.
Called Alter Space, this game makes its debut on Facebook today, February 25, Friday.
Alter Space: Social Game with an Environmental Advocacy
Alter Space is the first Philippine-made Facebook game that directly addresses the greater public about the ways with which they could do their share in proactively contributing to the preservation of the Earth’s resources.
Social games are a significant draw for social networking site users. As of this writing, a staggering 56 million Facebook users play daily and 290 million play monthly. Up to 265 million Facebook gamers, meanwhile, spend 210 minutes playing games. Twenty-percent of these game players even pay cash for in-game benefits.
In the Philippines, 54 percent of social networking site users cite gaming as the reason they log on. There are currently 18,124,220 Filipinos on Facebook.
International Cosplay Artist and Azkals’ Anton Del Rosario on Playing Alter Space
"The great thing about Alter Space is that it's not just any typical game that you play. In a creative way, it actually teaches people to be conscious of the carbon footprint they produce, which means changing their habits for the good of the Earth," says the 22-year-old Alodia, who’s also an artist, model and TV personality.
She adds that more than that, “the fact that it's a social networking game that allows lets me interact with other gamers by promoting a good cause is another reason for people to take up the game.” Alodia, who currently has thousands of online fans from all over the globe, really values Alter Space's digital impact.
Anton Del Rosario of the Azkals, shares his views on the environment and the actions that people should be taking to helping spread awareness on how to take care of it.
You can check out Alodia's video for Alter Space here:
Click here to read more about Azkals' teammate Anton Del Rosario's views on the environment.
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Read more about Azkals' teammate Anton Del Rosario's views on the environment.
"Our environment is not in a good state right now, especially with all the pollution around us. We can all feel its effect in our lives. People need to learn how to save energy, how to recycle, and to cut down on the things that aren't unnecessary," says Del Rosario. 
"I feel that people will like this game because it's like building your own world, and people get attached to these kinds of games. In this game, you're nurturing not just the person, but also their environment," he explains.
"I think we are not aware of the resources that we waste. For example, we have your air-conditioning and electric fans running almost 'round the clock. I can't say the electric bills are low, but I think that's because we just aren't aware of the adjustments we need to make with our daily habits. Then there's the use of plastics that just becomes litter in the streets and even bodies of water,” he says.
“If we could move towards a greener attitude by making people more aware, then that would have a significant impact on our planet. This game can help make people--not just Filipinos but the rest of the online community as well--live in a way that lessens our negative impact on the environment,” he concludes.
You can check out Del Rosario’s video for Alter Space here:
Click here to learn more about the gameplay of Alter Space.
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Read on to learn more about the gameplay of Alter Space.
Gameplay Basics and Keeping Carbon Footprint to a Minimum
Alter Space is easy to use. Game players’ mission is to take care of their own little planet. They do this by keeping their carbon footprint levels low, while still keeping their Happiness levels up. They will have to accomplish fun tasks and challenges while their carbon footprint is measured.
Every choice they make affects their environment, and the game always gives feedback as to whether the player’s choice was environmentally sound or not. They can also invite friends to be their neighbors, and their over-all carbon footprint as a community will be calculated.
If they fail to make the cleaner and greener choice, their virtual planet will experience disasters like Smog, which cause their avatar to lose interaction, and Heat Wave, wherein they will have to perform extra tasks or pay a fee to bring their carbon footprint down.
Aside from the carbon footprint calculator, game players’ progress is also measured through their Happiness level, Current-cy, and Experience points.
Mini-games, meanwhile, provide game players an interactive way with which they could learn more about the different sources of cleaner and renewable energy. Harvesting alternative energy is how they earn points in their planet—a significant function of the game that encourages players to seek out and use alternative energy.
These mini-games include Solar, wherein they are tasked to catch as many sunbeams as they can; Geo, wherein they are asked to click the steam that goes out of the valves of hot spots; and Hydro, wherein they create a passageway for the water to reach turbines.
Practical tips, trivia and other features guide players along as they strive to make their virtual planet a cleaner and greener one.
Click here to learn more about the unique Pinoy twists to Alter Space.
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Read on to learn more about unique Pinoy twists to Alter Space.
Prouldy Pinoy-made
While addressing the bigger issues of carbon footprint reduction and environmental preservation, Alter Space employs some uniquely Filipino features in doing so. The use of pamaypay (native fan), the playing of the game sungka, and eating what we call “dirty ice cream” are incorporated into the game for that distinct Filipino flavor.
Head out to the turo-turo and enjoy Pinoy classic breakfasts like sinangag, tapsilog, as well as dishes like adobo, sinigang and more.
Alter Space is free and anyone with a Facebook account could easily play the game. And while they are kept entertained, they, too, learn how they could do their bit in reducing their carbon footprint and helping preserve environmental resources to help achieve a better future for both people and planet.
To join its fan page, visit www.facebook.com/AlterSpaceGame.
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