Alternate reality game launched to reduce underage drinking in SA

Hey you there! Yes, you, the 16-year old playing Call of Duty. Did you know, you’re not old enough to play the game or drink a beer? But it’s okay, because there’s a kiff new game out that will teach you how to be lank responsible about dopping, and it’s made just for underage okes like you. Yoh, how cool is dat?

<rap music>

Developed over at South Africa’s “leading Immersive Entertainment specialists” EdenRage for South African Breweries, the alternate reality game YOU DECIDE is “aimed at reducing underage drinking by creating specific behaviour changes which are achieved through experiential learnings”.

Presumably those “experiential learnings” don’t include actual experiential drinkings.

“Central to any ARG is that players interact directly with characters in the game to solve plot-based riddles and puzzles in the real world, thus making the game completely immersive.” says Brett Lotriet Best, Creative Director for EdenRage Media. “For YOU DECIDE, some of these challenges are located in local newspapers, for example, where players have to find hidden codes and use their cell phones to unlock clues that take our lead characters on a journey to save their future.”

According to the press blurb:

The YOU DECIDE game revolves around a street gang in Durban in 2022 called AboRavaza, that in the story are involved in orchestrating underage drinking, rape and murder. A resistance group called Amabuthosend a time capsule back to the present day with the information and means to stop the gang from taking over. Throughout the game, players will have to solve daily clues to reveal a new way that the future can play out positively, thus showing the players that the choices they make now will affect their future.

But hang on. If players can make responsible decisions now, that means the bad future won’t happen, which means the time capsule will never be sent back, and the same players won’t be taught about responsible decisions, which means the bad future could still happen.

Quinton, get me a Disprin.

Follow @EdenRage, @RealityCheckSAB or @SAB_Limited on Twitter or “like” You Decide SA on Facebook for regular updates.