The serious game was named winner during 10th anniversary Games for Change Festival on June 17 in NYC.
Safe Sex with Friends, designed by NYC-based Kaho Abe (NYU-Poly), Ramsey Nasser (Eyebeam), and Sarah Schoemann (CUNY Hunter), is a social Web and mobile game that uses a simple pick-up-and-play mechanic to teach teens and young adults the basics of when to use barrier protection for safer sex. By referencing the familiar game-style of tile-based word games such a Scrabble, Safe Sex with Friends teaches safer-sex methods in an approachable and engaging way that’s easy to learn but hard to master.
When asked about the winning game decision, game designer and jury member Matt Parker stated “We really wanted a fun and compelling game because we wanted an experience that teenagers would engage with willingly, this is not your traditional educational game.”
“We are really excited, and so grateful for this,” Kaho and Ramsey said after they were announced as the winning game designers. “We really wish that Sarah were here to accept this honor on stage with us.”
The Games for Change Festival is the largest gaming event in New York City and the leading international event uniting game creators with others interested in accessing and furthering the positive social impact of games. Major support for the festival is provided by the David & Lucile Packard Foundation and Zynga.org. Partners include: Carnegie Mellon’s Entertainment Technology Center, the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop and the Tribeca Film Institute.
