Game of Choice, Not Chance is a platform for creating fun mobile games where young people discover,
explore, learn and play their way toward becoming empowered decision-makers. Within relatable game
worlds co-created with the youth, players navigate challenges while gaining
direct access to vital information and resources about their health and well-being.
As they play, young people discover how they can use their voices to shape their
future and open new worlds of possibility in their lives.
The decisions young people make—or are compelled to make—have a ripple effect on their lives now, and their futures as adults. For girls, a decision to stay in school can protect them against early marriage, pregnancy, and harmful norms. Yet too many do not have that option. Instead, they are forced to marry before they are ready.
Boys want to experiment, innovate and improvise their way to financial independence, but are
pushed towards ‘steady’ jobs that cement their role as providers. They want safe spaces to cry
and
express their emotions, but feel the pressure to be strong.
Young people want to explore different life paths as they transition to adulthood, but often
don’t
have access to mentors, reliable information and resources to guide them.
What if young people could enter alternate worlds as
avatars, and gain access to myth-busting information, and
explore their interests and preferences without pressure?
What if they could try on unfamiliar options for size and experience the outcomes of
different decisions?
What if—these powerful possibilities could be placed in
the palms of their hands?
Through mobile games, they can.
Our games invite youth to enter alternate worlds as avatars, and
explore their interests and preferences without pressure. They gain
the opportunity to try on unfamiliar decisions and experience
different outcomes in a safe environment. In-game links–made possible by
strategic partnering–enable youth instant access to accurate
information and vital resources with a tap on the screen.
Through our gaming innovations, young people experience the power
of decision-making and how it can positively affect their lives so they
may become more able to direct their futures with confidence.
Go Nisha Go™ marks our first mobile game co-created with girls, ages 15-19, in Hindi-speaking regions in India and launched on the Google Play Store in Summer 2022. Go Nisha Go is designed to increase girls’ fertility awareness knowledge and decision-making confidence, thus empowering them to make informed decisions, develop strong voices, and to become better equipped to realize their full potential.
In the game, players role-play relatable scenarios inspired by girls’ lived experiences and
learn about culturally sensitive topics. Girls travel through an exciting game world with
Nisha
gaining access to reliable information about health, self-care, relationships, and careers.
Together
with Nisha, players navigate challenging situations where they make decisions and experience their outcomes.
Co-design approaches and formative research were used to not only develop the game, but at
the same time, identify and broker partnerships with local organizations and private sector partners to
connect access to products and services to position the game for scale up and sustainability.
While the game focuses on menstruation, fertility awareness, delayed sexual debut,
prioritising education/careers and delaying marriage, themes identified through co-design
research with girls highlighted key behavioural insights and thematic areas. These are identity,
ambition, safety, self-image, relationships, and technology access. Based on these
insights/episode themes, the game has forged 20 partnerships with organisations to reach
girls where they are and deliver products and services that they value.
Try different options, experience different outcomes, and ‘try again,’ all in a low-risk environment
Explore accurate fertility awareness information and self-care resources that are culturally sensitive in a space that is confidential
Have vital resources delivered directly into the palm of their hands and outside the health system
Get supportive nudges toward positive decisions and self-care from in-game mentor characters and links
“Decisions are the power that can lead us to the places we want to go.”
“The game talks about career, confidence-building, periods and products to use. It’s really helpful for girls.”
“Nisha is a brave girl because she had the courage to make her own decisions. In fact, [in the game] it was not Nisha, but me who was making the decisions!”
“I believe the Go Nisha Go game has helped me in becoming more focused on my education and career. Like Nisha, I am also very aspirational and driven to achieve what I have wanted to. The game gives me hope.”
“I will make my brother play this game so he treats girls well.”
“My newly-married friends talk about not knowing enough about pregnancy prevention. This game is very useful in that sense.”
In the Go Nisha Go™ game and digital platform, four interrelated, non-linear pathways create an experience that engages, empowers, and educates game users.
In the Discover pathway, the Proteus Effect theorizes that experiencing different outcomes made for an avatar, resembling the players themselves, promotes emulation of avatar behavior, and consequently, real-life agency.
The decision-making pathway is rooted in impact learning and motivation theory of role modeling, which ‘nudges’ the players to make informed decisions about their health, relationships, and to demonstrate confidence.
In the play pathway, game-based learning theory is applied to engage, challenge, and entertain the player.
The act pathway integrates behavioral economics, psychology, and marketing to enable the players’ direct access to information, products, and services within the game, through strategic partnerships with the private sector.
This approach of using multiple, and multi-disciplinary, pathways to change, is of particular
interest for impact measurement of innovations, especially digital products that do not easily
conform with traditional behavior change models or standard co-design approaches.
There are benefits of using
cumulative and iterative inputs to integrate user feedback while formulating the pathway to
study
impact - not just limiting it to the design and development process, but continuously collecting
data
to modify and improve outcomes.
Different research methodologies are being applied to establish the effectiveness and impact of
the game. Predictive Analytics modeling is being applied to capture in-game data, identify
associations, make predictions, as well as create precision messaging based on in-game
behaviors.
This multi-angle research approach can translate the player’s gaming experience into
making informed decisions with intention in real life – not by chance. Pre-and post-game launch
surveys will be conducted as part of an outcome evaluation that will measure knowledge gained
outside the game - changes in attitudes, perceptions, and select behaviors.
Our games invite youth to enter alternate worlds as avatars, and
explore their interests and preferences without pressure. They gain
the opportunity to try on unfamiliar decisions for size and experience
different outcomes in a safe environment. In-game links–made possible by
strategic partnering–enable youth instant access to accurate
information and vital resources with a tap on the screen.
Through our gaming innovations, young people experience the power
of decision-making and how it can positively affect their lives so they
may become more able to direct their futures with confidence.
Game of Choice, Not Chance™ (GOC) is an initiative led by Howard Delafield International and implemented through partnerships. The GOC team of experts includes game developers and designers, science researchers and public health technical experts, data scientists, behavioral change specialists, as well as marketing and communication professionals.
Howard Delafield International, LLP (HDI) is a small business specializing in innovative learning solutions and technologies designed to drive prosperity and safety. Leveraging our expertise in research, commercial strategies, and cutting-edge technologies, we are dedicated to improving health outcomes and enhancing the well-being of underrepresented communities globally. Our commitment to measurable impact is reflected in a rigorous, research-driven approach, ensuring our work is both effective and transformative.
From India, Nepal and beyond, we’re opening up a world of possibilities through gameplay.
We are in the early stages of scaling and adapting our many games like Go Nisha Go in Nepal and more regions.
We’re using Game of Choice, Not Chance™ platform to craft a new game with and for boys and young men in India that is complementary to Go Nisha Go. The new gaming innovation led by Howard Delafield International will promote allyship, support aspirations and generate demand amongst boys for adolescent fertility awareness information and services.
To support the scale up and sustainability of Go Nisha Go game, we are building on existing methodology, Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) infrastructure, and youth-friendly content and storylines.
As navigators of their own lives and tomorrow’s leaders, young people need guidance on their
journey toward empowered decision-making. HDI and Game of Choice, Not Chance community are
committed to creating gaming innovations that support adolescents and youth in building their
decision-making muscle so they can confidently live more self-defined lives.
If putting youth at the center of gamified, tech-based solutions is your game, our growing
community may be for you! Let's work together to support young people's prosperity.
