New energy saving game on MXit
2009-08-05 22:21
Pretoria - The Ministry of Energy has launched a new social media game that aims to teach children how and why to save electricity.
The game, to be distributed for free via the internet and popular social networking and instant messaging tool MXit, was officially launched by Minister of Energy, Dipuo Peters, at Tigerkloof Combined School in Vryburg in the North West on Wednesday.
Called Save It! Digital game, it features three superhero characters who try to thwart the Energy Guzzler, a power-wasting monster who is using up all of the electricity available in a home.
The characters must out-manoeuvre the Guzzler, beating him by saving as much power as they can before he can undo their good work.
The game is aimed at primary-school children who will be able to compare the points that they have scored with other MXit users across the country.
Techno-savvy youth
Peters expressed her enthusiasm for the game: "In a fast-changing world, Government is constantly looking for new ways to reach its citizens. We are very excited to be using new media to communicate with the youth - who, let’s admit, are already far more techno-savvy than any adult," she laughed.
"Reaching the hearts and minds of South Africans starts with reaching the youth: we hope that they will take what they have learnt into their homes, their schools and, ultimately, into the future."
The game was developed by Government as part of its National Energy Efficiency Campaign, comprising a schools road show and a communications campaign aimed at educating South Africans about the importance of saving energy.
In light of both the recently announced electricity tariff increase and the global economic recession, Government is even more strongly dedicated to helping South Africans keep their household electricity bills to a lower amount than ever before, a press release says.
Save It! Digital game is available on MXit in Tradepost and can be freely downloaded from the National Energy Efficiency Campaign's website.