Tech Shout!

IBM is taking its social obligations seriously as the tech giant is all set to launch a free multiplayer online game called PowerUp which will challenge the youth to save the planet “Helios” from ecological disaster. Strikingly similar to what is currently happening on the Earth today; the game features a planet in near ecological ruin.

IBM’s PowerUp game features three missions for solar, wind and water power, which must be solved before natural disasters like sandstorms, floods or SmogGobs take place. You can expect to be riding over rugged mountains in buggies to build solar towers or you could also be searching through junk yards for scrap to repair wind turbines.

Playing the game, the youth will learn about energy conservation by the choices they make in completing their missions. The game also features non-player characters that represent a diverse cross section of the population, to be role models to encourage every young person to consider a career in engineering.

Along with the PowerUp game, players will be able to attend classroom lesson plans associated with energy transformation topics and interactive modules where kids can learn about 3D technologies to build virtual worlds.

Further, you will be playing as an avatar in the game using phrase-based chats to interact in mission. There’s a single player as well as a multiplayer mode.

Stanley S. Litow, VP of Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs and President of IBM International Foundation said, “American competitiveness demands more interest in math and science by students. Virtual worlds and 3D are an unexplored resource in education. We asked our best researchers to incorporate the use of this technology into traditional educational curriculum.”

“Learning through games and simulation is the way to engage tech-savy students today,” said Michael Mino, Director, Center for 21st Century Skills @ EDUCATION CONNECTION. “If we have any hope of saving the “real world from real problems,” we must embrace teaching students through computer games and virtual simulations.”

IBM innovators applied their knowledge in 3D and virtual worlds to develop the game in about 16 months. Nearly 200 teens in the Connecticut Innovation Academy served as advisors to IBM researchers during the game development.

IBM’s PowerUp game will first be launched at Engineer’s Week 2008 which begins on February 16 in Washington D.C.