3pointD.com

If you’ll be in LA for E3 (as I will), you may be interested to drop by the University of Southern California’s Center for Public Diplomacy on May 8, where they’ll be announcing the results of their Reinventing Public Diplomacy Through Games contest. The contest asked entrants to “design, conceive, and build a game or game prototype that employs the principles of public diplomacy.” Finalists have already been announced.

The finalists ranged from virtual cultural exchange programs to strategy games about the Israel and Palestinian conflict or international water rights. Listed below, in alphabetical order.

Exchanging Cultures
Exchanging Cultures, a diplomatic game built inside “Second Life,” was created to facilitate the creating virtual communities and relationships based on the exchange of cultural items like: dances, art crafts, food receipts, architectural models, clothing, cultural routes and images of real original places for travelers and explorers. [More information]

Global Kids Island: Fostering Public Diplomacy Through Second Life
Global Kids, Inc. envisioned a Public Diplomacy program within Second Life where the youth in the after-school program will spend the month learning about a global issue, experience an interactive and experiential workshop designed to educate about the issue. Their demonstration will be shown at the awards ceremony. [More information]

Hydro Hijinks
Hydro Hyjinks is a class project designed to promote discussion about international water issues and to educate players from around the world about sources of international conflict over water rights. [Video tour]

Peacemaker
PeaceMaker is a cross-cultural political video game simulation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which can be used to promote a peaceful resolution among Israelis, Palestinians and young adults worldwide. [More information]