Games for Change, Google Play, and HP Launch Program to Increase Representation in Mobile Games

Games for Change :

NEW YORK and CAPE TOWN, December 1, 2023: Today at the Games for Change Africa Festival, Games for Change (G4C) announced the launch of the Diverse Voices, New Stories Challenge in partnership with Google Play and HP. The program aims to improve representation and increase visibility for underrepresented creators in the mobile gaming industry, which reaches over 3 billion people worldwide.

“While the gaming industry is becoming more diverse, there are many voices and stories that remain underrepresented in the industry and the content it creates,” notes Susanna Pollack, President of Games for Change. “Games for Change is delighted to partner with Google Play and HP to increase access to funding and resources for marginalized creators, and foster a more inclusive, collaborative gaming culture.”

Through February 21, 2024, game developers worldwide can submit completed or beta versions of Android mobile games that have been released into the mobile market or have an upcoming expected release date in 2024. Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of industry experts through a three-phase jury process, and evaluated in four key areas: impact, innovation, gameplay and overall proposal. 

One team will be selected to receive financial and capacity-building resources — including $10,000 USD funded by HP, HyperX gaming peripherals, mentorship, and marketing and promotional support to launch the game in the Google Play store. The winning game will be showcased at the annual Games for Change Festival in New York City in Summer 2024. 

As part of the Challenge, G4C will also provide learning and professional development opportunities for underrepresented creators, including a Game Design Sprint as part of the G4C Africa Festival on December 1. During the event, teams of creators will develop game concepts related to the theme of “uplifting voices” that will be presented to a panel of regional experts during a culminating pitch event. Following the Game Design Sprint, teams can build their concepts into playable Android games to enter into the Challenge competition. 
Find more information on the Diverse Voices, New Stories Challenge here.

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About Games For Change
Since 2004, Games For Change (G4C) has empowered game creators and innovators to
drive real-world change — using games and immersive media to help people learn, improve
their communities, and make the world a better place. G4C partners with technology and gaming companies, nonprofits, foundations, and government agencies to run world-class events, public arcades, design challenges, and youth programs. G4C supports a global community of game developers working on using games to tackle real-world challenges, from humanitarian conflicts to climate change and education. For more information, please visit: www.gamesforchange.org

About Google Play
Google Play is an online store on Android that makes it easy for more than 2.5 billion monthly users across 190+ countries worldwide to discover millions of high-quality apps and delightful content. We help keep consumers safe by building rigorous protections into Google Play and requiring developers to follow high safety standards, while investing heavily in enabling developers to thrive. For more information, please visit: https://play.google/howplayworks

About HP
HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) is a global technology leader and creator of solutions that enable people to bring their ideas to life and connect to the things that matter most. Operating in more than 170 countries, HP delivers a wide range of innovative and sustainable devices, services and subscriptions for personal computing, printing, 3D printing, hybrid work, gaming, and more. For more information, please visit: http://www.hp.com.