The Shapers - Gaming for Good

‘I had an idea about building the other day. With the incidence of natural disasters meant to go up is there a way to build and design mobile cities that can be deployed in disasters like Haiti and Queensland? Could you crowd source a design from engineers and architects similar to Firefox?’ Fergus, February 2011

This simple question was the inspiration for the Shapers. When disaster strikes we all share the same sentiment: ‘I want to do something. I don’t want to just give money. What can I do?’ So, in the spirit of doing something, we developed an idea, an idea we plan to turn into reality with your help. It involves bringing together two seemingly separate things:

The Shapers


Online gaming is a massive pastime. To give you a sense of scale, think about the following:
20 million players have spent 17 billion hours on Xbox Live which is more than two hours for every person on the planet.
Source: www.onlinemarketing-trends.com

Building design technology is now highly evolved. Just have a look at companies such as Autodesk to see what is currently possible. To put it simply, you can now build every aspect of a building virtually (including materials, services etc), before setting foot on site.

So our idea is this…
To develop a game that combines the latest in building design and multiplayer online gaming to design and build visionary, sustainable buildings, towns and cities in areas which have struck by natural disaster.

This is about gaming for good. Harnessing gaming technology and combining this with people with highly specialised skills, passion and time to build real (rather than virtual) towns and cities, for people in need. It is also about using the size and talents global community in a positive, inspired and practical way.

This game will be called The Shapers. Gamers will be shapers. Gamers will compete with each other for the best possible design solutions and the disaster stricken cities and towns will be the canvas for the game.

For regions affected by catastrophe, whether Christchurch or Japan or Haiti, the situation is real, it is anything but a game. It is tragic, gut wrenching, and overwhelming. Leaving victims with little idea, let alone inspiration on how to start again. Resources are extremely limited and amidst all the confusion, inertia sets in in the form of bureaucracy.

Gaming can bring the key ingredients of positive energy and new ideas combined with the right game to create and rebuild inspired places to live and work in areas where it may feel as if there is little hope.