Gun safety nonprofit Change the Ref’s latest approach to reducing gun violence takes the form of a new video game, “The Final Exam,” developed by Energy BBDO, Webcore Games, Druid Creative Gaming, and Flutu Music.
“The Final Exam” challenges gamers to see if they can survive the school day during a shooting, educating them on the harsh reality of gun violence and empowering them to drive real change against it by advocating for key gun safety bills.
Energy BBDO gamified the topic of gun violence to get in front of players–ranging from Gen-Z to boomers–as well as parents, students aged 18-22, and gun control activists. The game was designed based on real data gleaned from school shootings.
From the escape timeframe to the drills, sounds, alarms, messages on the wall, and objects left behind, every detail has been faithfully re-created to immerse players in this tragic reality.
Players will find data hidden in school books, boards and maps, providing factual information about school shootings in the U.S.
Throughout the game, five different pieces of proposed legislation are featured to educate players on how they can prevent future tragedies, and inspire them to take action politically, including:
–Ban Of Assault Weapons
–Secure Storage Ethan’s Law
–Ban Of High Capacity Magazines
–Background Checks For All Gun Sales
–Raise The Minimum Age to Purchase
If a player collects all five bills, then they have the option to survive/escape (“win”).
“The Final Exam” is designed to be played on computers, and is available for download. Here’s a video providing a feel for the full game, which was rolled out at the recent TwitchCon.
