The Civic Games Lab is a games for social change lab that seeks to promote civic values by building games that tell South Asia’s story through play, but using its spoken, written and visual language. Through play we seek to challenge the problem of unequal access to information, around issues such as human rights, climate change, natural resource management, democracy, privacy, cities and urbanisation, news, history and other civic issues.
The lab, has previously worked on the extensive and popular board game, 'The Poll' that released in January 2019. The game puts regular people at the helm of the affairs of a political party, creating a-one-of-a-kind experience of the Indian elections.
The lab provides game consultancy, and in 2019/20 helped Breakthrough Trust build a game that would promote the idea of student councils in government schools in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. In 2021, the CGL will launch its Online Naagrik suite of games - which seek to provide a vocabulary of rights, privacy and security online through interactive stories, and two card games.
CGL builds games that intend to strengthen the civic of muscle in those communities that do not have access to such methodologies. It is our mandate to take these games to both urban and rural settings with the clear intention of helping young and old people more aware of their rights and role in society, and improve the bargaining power of the citizen.
the poll
The Poll is a game that puts regular people in charge of the affairs of a political party. In the game, players draft the manifesto, argue and debate the policies, plan the campaign strategy, while managing the resources.
kartik
The Poll is a game that puts regular people in charge of the affairs of a political party. In the game, players draft the manifesto, argue and debate the policies, plan the campaign strategy, while managing the resources.
It’s in the Water
It's in the Water is a game that takes you to the next level of fact-checking and solving a mystery with your journalistic mindset.
farzi
Fake News contributes to the spread of misinformation, test your knowledge if you can sort out facts and come out knowledgeable.
kritika
Play as Kritiika, a teenager who finds overnight fame and unknown horrors from the internet. Fight the virtual abuse and learn about the danger of using social media.
We are part of SMART (Seeking Modern Applications for Real Transformation) NGO, who work with vulnerable communities, with a focus on women, and is committed to creating awareness and empowering communities to speak up and stand up for their rights and entitlements.
Abeer is a journalist & creator of India’s first election board game called ‘The Poll’. He is a graduate of Azim Premji University, Bengaluru. His articles have appeared in Hardnews, The Wire, Scroll.in, Quartz and other magazines and websites. He has also been profiled by CNN, Vice, The Diplomat, and several other National and International publications.
A young, budding game developer from New Delhi, Akshay graduated with an undergraduate degree from Amity University, and with a postgraduate degree from Marwah Studios. From developing games to being an avid gamer himself, Akshay eats, sleeps, and breathes games.
A young researcher and writer, Kritvi graduated with a Master’s degree in Film Studies from the University of Amsterdam. Largely interested in post-colonial cinema, she believes that films are necessary visual texts to understand the social, political, and cultural of any society.
A young designer from New Delhi, Malavika is passionate about visual communication. She believes that graphic representation is an effective way to put across ideas, experiences, and information.
A freelance illustrator and graphic designer from New Delhi, Meher believes design thinking is a crucial aspect in the field of social innovation. Her work aims to reflect meaningful and effective experiences that design societies.
Abeer is a journalist & creator of India’s first election board game called ‘The Poll’. He is a graduate of Azim Premji University, Bengaluru. His articles have appeared in Hardnews, The Wire, Scroll.in, Quartz and other magazines and websites. He has also been profiled by CNN, Vice, The Diplomat, and several other National and International publications.
A young, budding game developer from New Delhi, Akshay graduated with an undergraduate degree from Amity University, and with a postgraduate degree from Marwah Studios. From developing games to being an avid gamer himself, Akshay eats, sleeps, and breathes games.
A young researcher and writer, Kritvi graduated with a Master’s degree in Film Studies from the University of Amsterdam. Largely interested in post-colonial cinema, she believes that films are necessary visual texts to understand the social, political, and cultural of any society.
A young designer from New Delhi, Malavika is passionate about visual communication. She believes that graphic representation is an effective way to put across ideas, experiences, and information.
A freelance illustrator and graphic designer from New Delhi, Meher believes design thinking is a crucial aspect in the field of social innovation. Her work aims to reflect meaningful and effective experiences that design societies.
We are very solid online and Yes we have worked long enough to have alumni 🙂
Anandya has helped out us in past with research assistance, conduct research, utilize institution libraries, archives, and collections, and other sources of information, to collect, record, analyze, and evaluate facts.
Vidita has worked as a research consultant with NGO SMART in association with Friedrich Naumann Stiftung South Asia. She shares her views through Scroll.in and Poverty Action Lab.
Anandya has helped out us in past with research assistance, conduct research, utilize institution libraries, archives, and collections, and other sources of information, to collect, record, analyze, and evaluate facts.
Vidita has worked as a research consultant with NGO SMART in association with Friedrich Naumann Stiftung South Asia. She shares her views through Scroll.in and Poverty Action Lab.