|
What
would it be like to feed and house 500 people every day, or
to help disadvantaged kids with their homework? What's the
best way to promote the arts in a big city?
Future
entrepreneurs can find out by playing Karma Tycoon, a new
interactive Web game. JPMorgan Chase and
Do Something,
a nonprofit that promotes social change among teenagers,
launched the game to help teens become business-savvy by
managing their own nonprofits.
"This is
not a mindless game," said Kimberly Davis, president of the
JPMorgan Chase Foundation. "It supports the firm's goal to
help build vibrant communities where people can live, learn
and thrive."
Create your own
Players choose from five types of virtual agencies: a
homeless shelter, youth center, senior center, animal
shelter or performing arts center. They select a city from
one of 11 JPMorgan Chase markets, including New York,
Chicago and Dallas.
Teens
create, outfit and expand their virtual organizations,
earning karma points in the process. The more people they
serve, the more karma they get. Gaining karma lets them
access more funding for their agency.
Rules of the game
Players begin with a JPMorgan Chase starter "grant" that
provides initial funds. They can also use virtual Chase
credit cards and apply for imaginary bank loans. A Learn
button leads to definitions of terms like credit rating and
collateral.
A news
ticker gives updates on breaking news, such as "citywide job
fair today," "transit workers strike" or "citywide
blackout." Players can make changes accordingly, adding a
job training center or outfitting a room with more beds.
Players
win and become a Karma Tycoon by helping as many people as
possible.
Davis
hopes the game will give teens "a sense of accomplishment, a
sense of learning and build their awareness of others'
needs—all while having fun."
Karma
Tycoon lesson plans for teachers are currently in the works.
The curriculum will be presented to more than 20,000
educators in March at a JPMorgan Chase-sponsored conference
in New York. »Learn
more about the
Celebration of Teaching & Learning conference
Try Karma Tycoon from home at
www.karmatycoon.com. Due to the corporate firewall,
employees cannot access the game from work. |
