Mobile Game Promotes Reflection on Creation of Mobile Devices 2 Favorite 

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Date: 

Sep 13 2011

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Online

In this mobile game, the studio Molleindustria makes commentary on the people and practices behind the creation of mobile devices. Not lost on the authors is the deep sense of irony in that the game itself relies on mobile platform. The "game" is structured as a narrative where the process begins in mining materials in Africa (slavery) to putting together the devices in China (labor abuse), to heavy purchasing in the U.S. (marketing), and finally to what happens when the devices become obsolete (digital waste). 


From the Games for Change site where the game is described and accessible the authors state, "Under the shiny surface of our electronic gadgets, behind its polished interface, hides the product of a troubling supply chain that stretches across the globe."

Here's a video describing the game: http://youtu.be/sSMSFLAsNzc

The game is available for sale on Android platforms after being banned from the iPhone story. The ban allowed the game to get lots of media coverage. The authors say that all revenue from the app "go directly to workers’ organizations and other non-profits that are working to stop the horrors represented in the game."
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