Harrison Ford wants you to play Ecotopia on Facebook

Mar 07
2011

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Harrison Ford, known for iconic movie roles such as Han Solo, Indiana Jones and Rick Deckard in Blade Runner, is getting into social gaming. Ford is supporting the development of a new game for Facebook which has an eco-friendly theme. It’s called Ecotopia, and is being made in collaboration with Conservation International. Founded in 1987, Conservation International is a non-profit organization which encourages responsible care of the global environment.

The connection between Conservation International and Harrison Ford is not a new one. Ford has been affiliated with the organization for over 15 years and is Vice-Chair of the group’s Board of Directors. He is also known for actually piloting a chopper with the group in the jungles of Venezuela. Ford states that he believes Ecotopia is a refreshing way to engage millions of people in addressing critical environmental issues.

Talkie, an independent game studio, developed Ecotopia which it plans to launch on Facebook on April 4th. The goal of the game is to create a personal utopia by battling eco-enemies including litterbugs. Players of the game begin with an uninhabitable environment which they must turn into a thriving community through the use of resources generated by the completion of in-game missions. Ecotopia will be free to play and will be developed for other platforms too. In the Facebook version of the game players will be able to connect with Facebook friends to send gifts and to encourage them to visit neighboring maps to perform helpful actions.

Ecotopia is said to be the first game that encourages players to take environmentally friendly actions in the real-world to receive benefits in the game world. While participating in the game, players will also learn more about Conservation International and its many initiatives to improve the sustainability of the global environment.

Brian’s Opinion

Facebook has quite a reach when you consider that it has over 500 million members. Social gaming on Facebook has also begun to develop a life of its own with many game studios reaping the rewards. It’s good to see a non-profit group has realized the benefits of both and created a new game that enlightens those who play it.

Besides Ford’s many movie roles and the entertainment it has brought me personally, I also appreciate his willingness to roll up his sleeves and get involved with a group that he believes shares his beliefs when it comes to the environment. While many famous actors and actresses are more than happy to share their time in doing a simple fundraiser or a television spot, it’s a unique group that actually gets involved at this level.

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