With the evolution of today’s technology, schools are trying to adapt to fast-paced changes. From the famous classic books to the first video game have been added to a high school’s recommended reading lists. What is this game, and which country has started it?
This War of Mine will be added to the recommended reading list in Polish high schools during the academic year 2020–2021, according to the Polish Prime Minister’s Chancellery. This was the world’s first attempt to include a video game among prescribed school reads.
How Did This War of Mine End Up on the Recommended Reading List for Polish Schools?
The decision came from a campaign that began in early 2019. Mateusz Morawiecki, Poland’s prime minister, has officially approved the inclusion of This War of Mine on the country’s recommended reading list for pupils.
This War of Mine, initially published in 2014, was inspired by the Bosnian people’s experiences during the Sarajevo Siege in the 1990s. It received tremendous recognition for its realistic depiction of the human cost of war, and by April 2019, it had sold over 4.5 million copies.
Of course, games are already being used in education for teaching maths, chemistry, and developing cognitive abilities. Still, I don’t think we’ve ever encountered a game being officially included in the educational system on a national level as school reading.
Grzegorz Miechowski, 11 bit Studios CEO in a statement.
Due to its age classification in Poland, the game will be included in the Polish reading list for the 2020/21 academic year, but it will only be available to students aged 18 and over.
It will be suggested for students of sociology, ethics, philosophy, and history, and it will be freely available to those students.
War of Mine was first published for the PC in 2015 and has since been ported to the Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, iOS, and Android platforms. There’s also a board game variant. (Source: Games Industry)
Gameplay and Objective of This War of Mine
This War of Mine is a survival strategy game. The player takes charge of a group of civilian survivors hiding in a damaged house in the besieged fictional city of Pogoren, Graznavia. The game’s primary objective is to stay alive during the conflict using just the tools and resources available to the player.
The majority of the characters under the player’s command have no military or survival expertise and will require continual involvement from the player to stay alive. The player must keep their characters’ health, hunger, and mood levels up until a truce is declared, which takes a variable time. (Source: Rock Paper Shotgun)
What was the Impact of the Game on Society?
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, 11 Bit Studios announced that all profits from This War of Mine would be donated to the Ukrainian Red Cross for seven days beginning February 24, 2022, to help victims directly. Within a week, the company had raised over £500,000. In total, $850,000 was raised. (Source: The Gamer)