MTV Hopes New Online Game Will Energize Youth Vote
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(Image Source: Lostremote)
BY GILLIAN STEDMAN
ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN
MTV launched its “Fantasy Election Game” Tuesday with hopes of boosting the 2012 youth vote. The online game is part of MTV’s “Power of 12” campaign which aims to encourage young people to follow the elections. MTV’s Andrew Jenks explains.
“Every step of the way I’ll be making sure that they’re hearing our concerns, all 45 million of us. It’s our country, it’s our future, it’s our voice. It’s the power of 12.”
The game will reward players who get involved in Election 2012 with real prizes, including tickets to the MTV Music Awards. Bonus points will be allocated to those who “check in” at election events and polling stations on FourSquare and GetGlue. The Futon Critic quotes the CEO of Knight Foundation - the main funder of the game...
“It's a fantasy game but the stakes couldn't be higher. If a fun format, competitive prizes, and credible information give young people the habit of engagement in civic life, it will be a big win."
But not everyone thinks the “gamification” of politics is a good idea. Marc Andreessen, founder of Mosaic internet browser says “software will eat the world”. According to a Forbes article…
“One of the ways that this is playing out is in the social media-izing of everything, from friendship to shopping, activism to politics.”
But according to “Game Politics,” MTV’s efforts to involve youth in politics have come at a cost. Their youth campaigns have faced criticism in the past from conservative and conservative-leaning groups, with many claiming that MTV is in favor of the Democrats.
The online game is available for registration.
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