By Abdullahi Lukman
A University of Oxford study has found that players of the wildlife simulation game Planet Zoo are more knowledgeable about animal species and more willing to donate to conservation efforts than non-players.
The study, titled Commercial Video Games Improve Species-Related Knowledge, Perceptions, and Action, involved 545 participants, comprising 272 players and 273 non-players. Its findings showed that players donated an average of £7.16 to wildlife conservation, compared with £4.68 among non-players.
Researchers also found that Planet Zoo players were three times more likely to donate the maximum amount of £20.
The results further indicated that participants with longer playtime and more recent gaming sessions were better at identifying animal species and their conservation status, expressed greater affinity for the animals, and showed stronger awareness of extinction threats.
Published earlier this month, the research examined concerns that exposure to virtual animals could negatively influence people’s perceptions of real-world wildlife.
However, the experiment found no evidence of such negative effects. Instead, the positive influence of gameplay was more pronounced for reptiles than for mammals, suggesting that video games could help increase support for species that typically attract less public interest.
The researchers suggested that game developers could play a greater role in connecting virtual experiences with real-world nature conservation.
Planet Zoo was released for PC in November 2019. Its sequel, Planet Zoo 2, is scheduled to launch on the 13th and will introduce aquatic animals and birds to the series for the first time.
