Games for Change is a global advocate for supporting and making games for social impact, bringing together together organizations from the social impact sector, government, media, academia, the gaming industry and the arts to grow the field, incubate new projects and provide an open platform for the exchange of ideas and resources. The Annual Games for Change Festival is the largest gaming event in New York City and the only international event uniting “games for change” creators, the public, civil society, academia, the gaming industry and media.

Opening the event will be Vice President Al Gore. In addition to Vice President Gore, featured speakers include: game designer Jesse Schell; Zynga.org’s Laura Hartman; U.S. Department of Education’s James H. Shelton III; and Half the Sky co-author Sheryl WuDunn.

Conference highlights:

• Inspiring Digital Kids Through Game Design. The AMD Foundation-sponsored day-long program is aimed at educators and organizations working in the classroom or informal settings with youth aged 10 – 18, empowering them to create their own digital games.
• Annual Games for Change Awards. These juried Awards recognize excellence in “games for change.” All nominees will address current and/or pressing social issues or aim to produce sustainable and positive impact on society. Awards will be presented in four categories: Direct Impact, Knight News Game, Learning & Education and Transmedia. Nominees will be announced on Friday, May 6 and the awards will be presented at the Closing Night Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, June 22.
• Demo Spotlight. An opportunity for game developers to present their projects on the main stage of the Games for Change Festival to an open panel of designers and funders for feedback. The six projects selected reflect the tremendous diversity and breadth of “games for change” currently in development and were selected from dozens of submissions.

For a complete line-up of programs, speakers, and to register, visit: www.gamesforchange.org/festival.