Tyler Chao/Dylan Loh, Channel NewsAsia 11 Nov 09;
SINGAPORE: The National Environment Agency (NEA) has developed a new online digital game to engage younger Singaporeans in environmental issues.
In Operation Monster Annihilation and Control Enforcement (Operation MACE), a futuristic Singapore is invaded by a race of Aedes-mosquito-like aliens. The players are agents who need to protect Singapore against dengue.
The game was launched on Tuesday at the Clean and Green Singapore Schools' Carnival.
Dr Amy Khor, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, said: "We are using new media to engage and educate our youths about environmental issues and getting them to adopt environmentally-friendly habits.
"And we think that this is the way to go because we cannot just rely on, you know, formal classroom teaching and so on."
In addition, the NEA has teamed up with MediaCorp to raise environmental awareness among students through the broadcaster's Roving DV contest.
Students from primary to tertiary institutions are invited to send in news clips about their schools' conservation efforts from January to July 2010.
The best clips will be selected and aired on News 5 Tonight in August 2010. The public can vote for their favourite stories via SMS.
- CNA/sc
Dengue dangers zapped in NEA-developed game
Straits Times 12 Nov 09;
CHILDREN are waging war against mosquitoes in an online game which aims to teach them about the harms of dengue even as they go on their mosquito-hunt.
Operation M.A.C.E, which stands for Monster Annihilation and Control Enforcement, is targeted at children aged between eight and 12.
In the game, which was developed by the National Environment Agency (NEA), players zap mosquito-like creatures that are plaguing Singapore.
The role-play game has three levels and is set in a futuristic Singapore where earth is under attack from the Mosqueros - mosquito-like baddies.
An enforcement task force of five heroes is set up to deal with this threat and dengue prevention messages pepper the game.
The game, launched yesterday at the annual Clean and Green Singapore Schools' Carnival in Anchor Green Primary School, got a thumbs up from Woodgrove Secondary student Nur Hasif Hasny. 'It's quite fun and the graphics are good. I'll be more careful about dengue in the future,' said the 13-year-old.
Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Environment and Water Resources) Amy Khor said engaging the young was a challenging task as the NEA found that only 60 per cent of students have educated their families on how to prevent mosquito breeding.
'By engaging young Singaporeans in such interesting, innovative and interactive ways, we aim to further promote environmental ownership among the generation who are savvy with the new media,' said Dr Khor.
NEA's 3P network division director Tan Wee Hock said the game aims to capitalise on the popularity of the Internet among the young.
He said: 'We hope the game will create greater awareness about dengue and get children to pass on the message to their parents - who are the ones who will take preventative measures.'
He said the game, which cost $50,000 to animate, could be adapted for other environmental issues such as chikungunya, which is also spread by the virus-carrying Aedes mosquito.
So far this year, there have been 3,897 cases of dengue, down from 5,361 during the same period last year.
To play the game, visit www.macecommand.com.sg.
VICTORIA VAUGHAN
