Gun safety nonprofit Change the Ref’s latest approach to reducing gun violence takes the form of a new video game, “The Final Exam,” developed by Energy BBDO, Webcore Games, Druid Creative Gaming, and Flutu Music.
“The Final Exam” challenges gamers to see if they can survive the school day during a shooting, educating them on the harsh reality of gun violence and empowering them to drive real change against it by advocating for key gun safety bills.
Energy BBDO gamified the topic of gun violence to get in front of players–ranging from Gen-Z to boomers–as well as parents, students aged 18-22, and gun control activists. The game was designed based on real data gleaned from school shootings.
From the escape timeframe to the drills, sounds, alarms, messages on the wall, and objects left behind, every detail has been faithfully re-created to immerse players in this tragic reality.
Players will find data hidden in school books, boards and maps, providing factual information about school shootings in the U.S.
Throughout the game, five different pieces of proposed legislation are featured to educate players on how they can prevent future tragedies, and inspire them to take action politically, including:
–Ban Of Assault Weapons
–Secure Storage Ethan’s Law
–Ban Of High Capacity Magazines
–Background Checks For All Gun Sales
–Raise The Minimum Age to Purchase
If a player collects all five bills, then they have the option to survive/escape (“win”).
“The Final Exam” is designed to be played on computers, and is available for download. Here’s a video providing a feel for the full game, which was rolled out at the recent TwitchCon.
CreditsClient Change the Ref Agency Energy BBDO Game Development Webcore Games Game Audio Flutu Music Gaming Agency Druid Creative Gaming Influencer Marketing OMG Creo
NHS England, M&C Saatchi UK, Director Tom Tagholm Team On PSA Highlighting The Overlooked Signs Of A Stroke
National Health Service (NHS) England has unveiled a multichannel campaign, “Act FAST,” to raise awareness of the individual signs of a stroke and get people to call 999 as soon as they suspect they may be experiencing any one symptom. The push, which is part of the ongoing “Help Us, Help You” campaign, was developed in partnership with M&C Saatchi UK.
The campaign depicts everyday situations where everything might seem relatively normal, but where there’s the sign of someone experiencing a stroke.
A key component of the campaign is this :30--directed by Tom Tagholm of Various Films--which sets up the idea that initially, a stroke might not seem like much, highlighting key symptoms: from struggling to use a paint roller, to not being able to smile when watching TV, to slurring your speech when reading a story to your grandchild. The PSA emphasizes that time is critical, ending with the line: “Face or arm or speech, at the first sign, it’s time to call 999.”
Jo Bacon, Group CEO, M&C Saatchi UK, said, “We want to ensure people take action on the first symptom, rather than waiting for more conclusive signs. To help them understand that even when everything seems normal, something serious might be happening.”
Matt Lee, executive creative director, M&C Saatchi UK, commented: “This is important work. We wanted to explore that precise moment when your world shifts, quietly yet powerfully, off its axis during a stroke. We highlight how a tiny external moment can actually be seismic—an extraordinary gear change, framed in a really ordinary way.”
Director Tagholm shared, “My Dad suffered a stroke a few years ago and was saved from the worst by acting quickly, and by the work of the NHS. So there’s... Read More