IBM is well-known for its work with corporate-focused virtual worlds, but the company has a fun side too. Its IBM Research division has just announced PowerUp, an MMO with a green theme, which will be the official game of America's largest Earth Day celebration.
The game involves saving the planet ‘Helios’ from ecological disaster, and is aimed at teenagers, whose avatars can compete alone, or work together in timed missions rebuilding solar panels, wind turbines and dams. It’s all about teaching energy efficiency, climate change and conservation principles, apparently. There’s a video demo too:
The game is free to play, and comes with its own tie-in lesson plan for teachers to use in classrooms, as well as a module showing teens IBM’s technologies for building virtual worlds. A worthy cause, and an innovative use of virtual worlds technology.
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