Alternative Energy. Development of an Android Serious Videogame to change the mindset about the use of renewable energy sources through a video game

Abstract

Global warming is growing exponentially and this is notably affecting the environment. Many countries do not use renewable energies because of many different factors which include the pricing. Clean energy development is vital for combating climate change and limiting its most devastating effects. The Earth’s temperature has risen by an average of 0.85ºC since the end of the 19th Century. Renewable energies are sources of clean, inexhaustible and increasingly competitive energy. In fact, the use of renewable energies will have very positive economic consequences. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), doubling the renewable energy share in the world energy mix will result in additional global growth of 11% by that year (equivalent to 1.3 trillion dollars), an increase in wellbeing of 3.7% and in employment in the sector of up to more than 24 million people, compared to 9.2 million today. The main advantages of clean energies are: - Environmental benefits: Vital for combating climate change - Inexhaustible - Jobs and the economy - More countries with energy: Tanzania, Niger, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Liberia, Malawi, Burundi, Chad and South Sudan are countries that have an average of 10% of people without energy. This project was born from our concern on these problems: we see that our countries do not do anything to avoid global warming. After an exhaustive search about why we do not use renewable energies we figured out that people are not concerned about the environment and also because they think that new technology is expensive. The question that everybody asks and considers is whether it is worth the cost. However, it’s not just the money. We need to make it part of the culture but most people are not ready for a change. The government is the best at facilitating change faster than it can naturally happen. Knowing that money is the best incentive for people to do anything, the government could potentially give those who use renewable energy a tax break or lower tax. And that is why our intention is to change the municipality council’s mindset, giving them the power to build different types of energy sources, to try to avoid polluting the city. The game will put the player in the main role of the story: the player is a proud mayor of a new city that he needs to create. The mayor can build different types of buildings and the player decides if he/she wants to be green or not. The mayor can unlock buildings and expand the city by doing quests or tasks and make the most beautiful island