Online Careers Game Launched

16/12/10

An online game which helps young people to plan their future careers has been launched by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA).

'MeTycoon', commissioned by NESTA, is the creation of PlayGen in collaboration with CRAC (the Career Development Organisation). It allows players to investigate a wide range of career options and learn both the key qualifications and also the wider skills and aptitudes which jobs and careers will require in the future.

Players create an online character, which moves through a virtual life making choices and developing skills along the way. The game invites players to choose careers and explains which qualifications and skills are necessary to achieve those careers, and outlines hobbies and activities that can build up and maintain these skills. Over 130 video clips of real people in different careers are available to view, creating the biggest database of careers videos available in any online game.  The game also makes players aware of how each of these choices could affect their lifestyle - having to manage a budget to fund their choices throughout the game.

Ben Arora, NESTA's Programme Director for Education said: "We're really excited to launch this new game and help young people to make informed decisions about their future careers in a way that is relevant to them. Many of the jobs they will be doing don't yet exist so equipping them with a wide range of skills such as organisation and negotiation skills will give them the best chance of success".

According to a recent survey by NESTA and PlayGen of MeTycoon players, the internet is the top source for careers information (84%), above school (60%), parents (60%) and friends (40%). 87% of those questioned also felt that playing Me Tycoon had given them new ideas about jobs they hadn't thought of previously and 78% agreed that the game helped them find out what skills are important for getting a good job[i].

MeTycoon, which is aimed at 11 to 16 year olds, encourages the player to become more engaged and aware of their role in planning and managing their future career. Players also come to understand that most people will have more than one career in their working lifetime which helps underpin the importance of having a broad range of transferable skills. The launch comes at a time when the availability of traditional careers guidance for this age group is likely to reduce with changes to the funding and structure of Connexions and other services.

Kam Star, PlayGen's managing director said: "MeTycoon's young players are discovering exciting new prospects for their real-life future careers.  We are incredibly honoured to be making games that help today's young people have a better tomorrow."

MeTycoon forms part of NESTA's Idiscover programme which is working to identify the areas of growth for the future economy and ways of equipping young people with the skills that they will need to thrive in these industries.

The game was a finalist at the prestigious Serious Games Showcase and Challenge 2010 in December 2010. To play the game visit http://metycoon.org/

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Notes to Editors:

For further information please contact Ruth Attride on 020 7438 2609 or ruth.attride@nesta.org.uk or Chani Hirsch on 020 7438 2601 or chani.hirsch@nesta.org.uk

About NESTA

NESTA is the UK's foremost independent expert on how innovation can solve some of the country's major economic and social challenges. Its work is enabled by an endowment, funded by the National Lottery, and it continues to operate at no cost to the taxpayer. 

NESTA is a world leader in its field and carries out its work through a blend of experimental programmes, analytical research and investment in early-stage companies. www.nesta.org.uk   

About PlayGen

PlayGen is the UK's leading games development studio specialising in serious games and social games that educate players, influence their behaviour and inspire action.

PlayGen creates playful solutions that combine play with real world topics, to make happier, smarter, better informed and more confident players.  For more information visit http://playgen.com

About CRAC

CRAC: The Career Development Organisation is an independent, charitable organisation which aims to promote and encourage career development and active career-related learning, through providing intelligence and innovation to the careers sector. www.crac.org.uk

[i] On 7^th December 2010, Me Tycoon surveyed everyone who has played the beta version of Me Tycoon. The 90 respondents were aged between 9 - 54 years old, with a modal age of 15 years.