Montreal’s Frima Studio is Building Games That Raise Social Awareness

By: Kuljit Grewal  |   August 23rd, 2012   |   Games, News, O Canada

Successful Quebec-based gaming company Frima Studio are using what they do best to raise social awareness and promote change world round. Founded in 2003 by three budding entrepreneurs, the company has gone on to create a plethora of multi platform games boasting a portfolio that features over 80 mobile games and 200 flash games. For all of the company’s past success however, it might be their two latest projects that resonate most with the studio’s founders.

 

In their game Carbon Rush, players become the top level management of a large multinational utility company with the goal of having said business prosper as long as possible through the earning of carbon credits. According to the Globe and Mail, the goal as company head is to be “ready to destroy the world for the sake of shareholders”. Means of doing so available at your disposal include bribing media members and seedy politicians as well as hiring mercenaries to do your bidding.

 

The aforementioned game is based on the work of a local filmmaker and explores public companies’ ethical dilemma of balancing stakeholder desire for increased profits while also maintaining public image, values and ethics as well as minimizing environmental impact. The game features actual video footage interspersed within the game play that hammers home the game’s message – it is usually the common man that suffers for the sake of industry, and it is not right. It is education as much as it is gaming.

 

The studio’s next game is another passion project that will have an impact on a real life social issue, the oppression of women of all ages particularly in the developing world. The game is based on the popular book Half the Sky, which was penned by two journalists who travelled throughout Africa andAsia to record and share the experiences and lives of incredible women who are not given a fair shake in life.

 

The book has had such a profound impact that it has started a movement to help women even drawing celebrity support from Meg Ryan and Eva Mendes. We applaud Frima Studios as well as the Half the Sky movement for being the change they wish to see in the world. Check out the Carbon Rush documentary trailer below.