Virtual tree, real impact: how simulated worlds associate with the perception of limited resources

Abstract

Video games have long been considered an effective educational tool. Environmental education studies have found that games positively affect the feeling of nature connectedness, producing pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors. With growing urbanization, video games also provide chances to interact with nature. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Nintendo’s Animal Crossing: New Horizon (ACNH) became a household name, with millions of copies sold worldwide. The article used the Bayesian multilevel model to analyze 640 survey responses of ACNH game players from various online communities. The correlations between the perception of limited resources and virtual planting and exploiting behaviors with the varying effect among ethnicities were explored. The findings suggested positive correlations between the perception and in-game actions among all ethnicities, regardless of whether the actions are planting or exploiting. While further evidence is needed, the findings suggest the restraints of game mechanics. To foster a pro-environmental culture, stakeholders can consider video games a novel technological aid to environmental education.

Video games as a tool for ecological learning: the case of Animal Crossing

“…Cumbo and Iversen (2020) recommend digital tools like video games to promote long‐term environmental stewardship in children. Ho et al (2022) have expressed similar conclusions about the limitation of natural resources. Thus, we believe that games focused on natural environment such as AC could give an answer to Soga et al (2020) about the mitigation of biophobia through natural experience in children.…”

“…As it has been suggested for several video games in empirical studies, including AC, this video game could be a tool to learn ecological concepts and conservation threats (Balmford et al, 2002;Fisher et al, 2021;Genovart et al, 2013). Ho et al (2022) have analyzed survey responses of 640 AC players and found that AC video games could impact players' environmental perception around the topic of limitation of resources. Nevertheless, no previous studies have quantitatively investigated how AC video games might contribute to taxonomic knowledge and education.…”

Sexist Attitudes in Online Video Gaming: Development and Validation of the Sexism Against Women Gamers Scale in Spanish and English

“…In a teenage audience, it is possible that raising awareness about these sexist attitudes present in an environment so close to them, such as video games, may cause gamers to reflect on issues related to discrimination, sexualization, and gender stereotypes in a way that may not otherwise be possible, all of which may encourage them to reject sexism in real life. For example, in a virtual world that illustrates real-world problems, gamers also learn about environmental issues and the solutions to address or mitigate them (e.g., Ho et al, 2022; Meya & Eisenack, 2018). In other words, reducing this gender inequality will benefit society as a whole.…”

Experiment ended

“…Several studies have used life simulation games such as the SIMS 4 in educational settings such as language, gender, and cultural studies [4] [19] [61] and Second Life where researchers facilitated a co-creation system to design stimulating user experiences within the platform [38]. Simulation games provide a way for people to learn about and experience the world through an alternative perspective gaining an understanding of language, social relations, cultural and environmental issues [56] [32]. Many of the studies on simulation video gaming or serious games have found that using virtual reality in addition to the game to depict the past or enact potential scenarios, such as in emergency response training create an immersive embodied experience that can aid empathy and a connection to alternative experiences [29] [41] .…”