This Gun-Safety Video Game Simulates a School Shooting

'The Final Exam' launched at TwitchCon

There’s only one way to survive Change the Ref’s video game that simulates a school shooting.

In “The Final Exam,” players must collect five gun-safety measures or pending pieces of legislation to last the entire school day.

They are:

• Banning of Assault Weapons
• Securing Storage/Ethan’s Law
• Banning High-Capacity Magazines
• Background Checks for All Gun Sales
• Raising the Minimum Age to Purchase

Created by Energy BBDO, Webcore Games, Druid Creative Gaming and Flutu Music, the playable campaign debuted at TwitchCon and is now available online. The team designed the initiative based on actual data from school shootings with all age ranges in mind.

“Like our son Joaquin, Change the Ref explores new things while advocating against gun violence in America,” says Manuel and Patricia Oliver, founders of Change the Ref. “With this project, we focus on reaching a new audience—gamers who spend considerable time immersed in their worlds as a survival game claimed to be the hardest ever because it’s grounded in real life. Bringing our message into their universe by presenting both the problem and the solution in a very unconventional way. The game tackles gun violence in America and its approaches to change while challenging the player through a dynamic gaming experience.”

Note: Some may find the promos disturbing.

Over the course of 10 minutes, players must complete timed activities like hiding from a shooter, finding an escape route and barricading the classroom.

Clues are hidden in school books and maps that provide facts about U.S. school shootings.

“One of the most inspiring things about Change the Ref is that they refuse to let America become apathetic to the school shooting epidemic. They are relentless,” Josh Gross, CCO of Energy BBDO, tells Muse.

“This got us thinking where else their message might show up and drive action. Gaming allows us to create an immersive experience where anyone can step into the shoes of a child going to school in America. Whether you’re a middle-schooler who’s used to active shooter drills, or a middle-aged person who only knows about school shootings from the news, you can better understand what the stakes really are in the absence of meaningful change. “

CREDITS 
Agency: Energy BBDO
Game Development: Webcore Games
Game Audio: Flutu Music
Gaming Agency: Druid Creative Gaming
Influencer Marketing: OMG Creo