"Nothing But Nets" Helps U.N. Prevent Malaria in Africa

"Nothing But Nets" Helps U.N. Prevent Malaria in Africa

April 20, 2008
When we speak of positive uses of game tech, it doesn't get much better than Nothing But Nets, an online game offered by the United Nations in order to highlight the need for mosquito netting in Africa.

After all, World Malaria Day is April 25th.

In Nothing But Nets the player steers a motorcycle and delivers mosquito bed netting to needy villagers. As games go, it's not state of the art, but it does drive home the need to combat mosquito-borne illnesses with proper netting.

There are also opportunities for the player to sign up as a donor or a fundraiser, but these are not required to play.

Via: Kotaku
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Comments

Submitted by StealthKnight - April 20, 2008 at 4:03 pm -0500
Sounds like a potentially fun game. I wonder if the riding aspect is like the African Trail. An old PC game that a bike riding aspect to it.
Submitted by GRIZZAM 512 - April 20, 2008 at 3:56 pm -0500
That's nice.
Submitted by “Nothing But Nets” Helps U.N. Prevent Malaria in Africa - April 20, 2008 at 3:58 pm -0500
[...] wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptWhen we speak of positive uses of game tech, it doesn’t get much better than Nothing But Nets, an online game offered by the United Nations in order to highlight the need for mosquito netting in Africa. After all, World Malaria Day is April 25th. In Nothing But Nets the player steers a motorcycle and delivers mosquito bed netting to needy villagers. As games go, it’s not state of the art, but it does drive home the need to combat mosquito-borne illnesses with proper netting. There are also opportunities for the player to sign up as a donor or a fundraiser, but these are not required to play. Via: Kotaku [...]
Submitted by Cheater87 - April 20, 2008 at 4:27 pm -0500
I beat it and sent a net. :)
Submitted by Kerotan - April 20, 2008 at 4:42 pm -0500
Like the free rice game, this is an awesome idea.
Submitted by GRIZZAM 512 - April 20, 2008 at 5:25 pm -0500
Heh. And they say video games decrease pro-social behavior...
Submitted by Jonathan, aka Soul - April 20, 2008 at 6:48 pm -0500
@Kerotan: Indeed it is :) .
Submitted by the conspiracy - April 20, 2008 at 7:52 pm -0500
Whats up with that one link? The one that just summarizes the article.
Submitted by NeW SpEcTrUM - April 20, 2008 at 7:54 pm -0500
Good to see this getting notice, my town recently did ran a fundraiser at one of our lacrosse games. (Got filmed on MSG.) To my knowledge we raised about $7,000!
Submitted by GRIZZAM 512 - April 20, 2008 at 7:56 pm -0500
@NeW SpEcTrUM

Congradulations.
Submitted by Grizz - April 20, 2008 at 8:51 pm -0500
I wanna know who comes up with some of these "world days" and also chooses their dates. Not 2 weeks ago it was "National Compliment Day" here in Australia; and now I find out that "World Malaria Day" is also on the same day as "ANZAC Day", where we commemorate those ANZACS lost during wartime.

WILL SOMEONE STOP THE MADNESS!?
Submitted by U.N. Contributes to African Efforts on GBN: Gaming Blog Netw - April 20, 2008 at 8:58 pm -0500
[...] Turns out, I do. As reported by Gamepolitics and Kotaku, the UN is offering an online game called ‘Nothing But Nets’ to highlight the importance of mosquito netting in Africa. [...]
Submitted by GRIZZAM 512 - April 20, 2008 at 10:58 pm -0500
Oh good lord I spelled congatulations wrong...
Submitted by NeW SpEcTrUM - April 20, 2008 at 11:07 pm -0500
@GRIZZAM 512

We all make stupid mistakes like that. I put a completely unnecessary "did" in there.
Submitted by DarknessDeku - April 21, 2008 at 12:40 am -0500
@ GRIZZAM 512 and NeW SpEcTrUM

We really need quote and edit buttons.
Submitted by Kerotan - April 21, 2008 at 1:43 am -0500
@DarknessDeku

you speaks the truth!
Submitted by T5 - April 21, 2008 at 6:17 am -0500
A video game won't do it, DDT will
Submitted by T5 - April 21, 2008 at 6:20 am -0500
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0707/feature1/text3.html

Link

A good read for anyone who takes the issue seriously (I'm looking at you UN)
Submitted by Sean - April 21, 2008 at 8:11 am -0500
Speaking of Malaria in Africa, why is Far Cry 2 not getting the same political flak as Resident 5? Same setting, similar looking bad guys (they're black, and the developers aren't using the zombie excuse), so why does that get off the hook while Resident Evil 5 gets all the negative attention? Sorry if I'm being off topic.
Submitted by Vake Xeacons - April 21, 2008 at 8:39 am -0500
Like I always said: If we're going to reach out and help this world, it will be through games.
Submitted by JustChris - April 22, 2008 at 8:08 am -0500
@T5

You know, I may agree with that. A little DDT is what Africa needs. I watched a documentary on malaria, and it explained that DDT is what got the Americas out of their epidemic. Africa didn't have access to this "new breaking" pesticide, and by the time DDT was considered dangerous, Africa had no chance to use it.

However, DDT is not as effective in tropical climates, and it poses a dilemma against the current state of famine in many countries in Africa.
Submitted by 2e9f0ccc96b3 - May 9, 2008 at 7:08 am -0500
2e9f0ccc96b3...

2e9f0ccc96b33b1fc81b...

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