Environmental Leader reported the news that fighting climate change has now found its way into video games:

IBM Launches PowerUp - Online Climate Change Game

A new IBM promotion comes in the form of a free multiplayer online game, PowerUp, that challenges players to help save the planet “Helios” from ecological disaster.

The game is part of IBM’s TryScience initiative and was launched at Engineer’s Week 2008. The game features a planet in near ecological ruin where three exciting missions for solar, wind and water power must be solved before sandstorms, floods or SmogGobs thwart the rescue. IBM says that it devised the 3D virtual game to engage kids and educators in engineering, energy, and diversity awareness.

Along with the game, there will be classroom lesson plans associated with the energy transformation topics and an interactive module where kids can learn about 3D technologies to build virtual worlds.

Last year, Chevron and The Economist Group launched an online game, Energyville, that looks at the economic, environmental and security opportunities and trade-offs associated with different energy sources. And Electronic Arts and BP collaborated to include climate change scenarios within SimCity Societies.