Alter Space

CEBU, Philippines - What do cosplayer/avid gamer Alodia Gosiengfiao and Azkals player Anton del Rosario have in common?

Prior to Earth Hour activities last March 26, we learned that both have "chosen to fulfill tasks that increase their Happiness Levels" via www.facebook.com/alterspacegame.

The first Filipino-made Facebook-based game "Alter Space" developed by the AboitizPower Brand Team was unveiled at the Shangri-La Mactan Resort & Spa with the presence of Cebu's print and social media practitioners

Alter Space, according to Aboitiz Power Corporation brand specialist Mia Bontol, is a fun way for gamers to learn practical tips on Earth-friendly living, adopting a lifestyle that helps reduce the effects of global warming, climate change and carbon emissions on the planet.

It has been observed that while many people talk about the importance of saving the environment, very few really take on the proactive role in addressing the issue.

"Not many of them, in fact, know that switching from disposable plastic bottles to reusable ones can create a big overall impact in preserving the resources of our planet," this was emphasized.

With this in mind, AboitizPower launched the said Facebook game application geared towards educating people about the concepts of carbon footprint and cleaner and renewable sources of energy and how being responsible and mindful of their activities could help achieve this end.

Bontol underlined that social games are a significant draw for social networking site users, considering that (as of this writing) a staggering 56 million Facebook users play daily and 290 million play monthly; and that up to 265 million Facebook gamers spend 210 minutes playing games. Twenty-percent of these game players even pay cash for in-game benefits, this was further learned.

Moreover, 54 percent of social networking site users in the Philippines cite gaming as the reason they log on; and that there are currently 18,124,220 Filipinos on Facebook.

Getting your game on

The team tapped the technical expertise of Ms. Marina Mallare, senior associate of the Climate Change Program-Ateneo de Manila University School of Government in explaining terms such as carbon footprint (refers to the amount of carbon gas emissions that a particular human activity releases into the planet).

According to her, practically every human activity – driving a car, cooking hamburgers, baking pastries, using household appliances, etc. – leaves its own carbon footprint, whether large or small.

Mallare's inputs considered the simplifying of terms to be able to touch base with a wider segment of gamers, such as pointing out that "the more carbon emissions are released, the warmer our planet gets"; and that "too much warmth on a global scale affects our weather in ways that could harm our environment and life on Earth."

Reducing the amount of carbon emissions in the planet is one way of managing global warming. To do this, one needs to choose activities that leave only a small carbon footprint. As we can't totally avoid carbon emissions, being a fact of life that living things release carbon gas into the atmosphere, even something as basic as breathing adds to the amount of carbon gas in the planet.

When you play Alter Space, you actually make choices and play games that teach you how to reduce your carbon footprint.

Playing the game

In Alter Space, you not only have your own virtual home but an entire planet to take care of. The choices you make during the game will determine whether your planet has more or less total carbon emissions. The objective of the game is to make choices and fulfill tasks that will increase your Happiness Level while ensuring that carbon emissions are kept to a safe amount.

Gamers are to fulfill certain tasks (cooking, taking a shower, buying food, going to the park, shopping, watching TV, using the computer, etc.) in order to increase their Happiness Level. Every time the Happiness Level reaches 100 percent, the avatar goes up one game level. The game goes up to Level 5.

Gamers must continuously earn "Currentcy" during the game. This is done by playing various mini-games that involve harvesting energy from alternative sources: a solar power plant, a geothermal plant and a hydro-electric plant - all of which provide energy without carbon emissions. It also includes details and touches that showcase Filipino culture, like buying food from a "turo-turo"; playing sungka; or using an abaniko or fan.

"The great thing about Alter Space is that it's not just any typical game that you play. In a creative way, it actually teaches people to be conscious of the carbon footprint they produce, which means changing their habits for the good of the Earth," says 22-year-old cosplayer/model/TV personality Alodia Gosiengfiao.

As for Anton del Rosario of the Philippine national football team Azkals, he said that "people need to learn how to save energy, how to recycle, and to cut down on things that are unnecessary." (FREEMAN)