Flight simulator games are one of the top ten most played games in the world. AlmapBBDO and Greenpeace Brazil have hacked their popularity to bring awareness to the dire consequences of illegal mining. A recent study by Greenpeace Brazil showed that illegal mining destroyed the equivalent of 1,409.3 hectares on the lands of the Yanomami, Kayapó and Munduruku peoples in 2023 – the equivalent of clear-cutting four football pitches per day and that approximately 26,400 hectares across these three territories are severely affected by illegal activities.
So AlmapBBDO and Greenpeace Brazil have launched Flying Guardians, a mod to the hyper-realistic flight simulator, that uses satellite imagery by Planet Labs PBC, a leading provider of data and insights about Earth. The adaptation allows players to observe real incidents of illegal mining and deforestation in the Amazon, specifically from the Munduruku and Yanomami lands. It even includes updated satellite imagery of the rainforest and contextual information about these lands among its functions.
The Greenpeace tool for cyber-activism swaps out the game’s original maps for updated satellite data provided by Planet. When users fly over environmentally protected areas of the rainforest, they’ll see images updated throughout the year, enabling them to identify potential incident sites and report their exact coordinates.
“With speed, technology, and adaptability at its core, this initiative bridges the gap between the desire of a new generation to make a difference, the gaming world, and satellite technology,” stated Ricardo Guerra, Planet’s director for Latin America. “By addressing the urgent needs of our changing climate and environment, we’re proud to see Planet leading the charge in innovative projects and supporting Greenpeace in this exceptional endeavor. This initiative is being rolled out in Brazil, and it has huge potential for global expansion.”
“The Munduruku and Yanomami lands have been devastated by wildcat mining. Community members’ lives have been taken, the environment is being desecrated, diseases like malaria are out of control, and the rivers are being poisoned by mercury,” added Jorge Dantas, spokesperson for Greenpeace Brasil’s Indigenous Peoples sector. “The technology for constantly updating these maps means that each player can see for themselves the destruction caused by illegal mining in the Amazon. And to help stop that destruction, everyone can pitch in by signing our petition to free the region of wildcat mining, in a move to help Brazilian authorities remove these invaders from Indigenous lands once and for all.”
Customisations to the flight simulator include the addition of Greenpeace planes, which are often used on environmental protection missions. There are also four command towers providing information about geographic coordinates of the Munduruku and Yanomami lands, and a command that allows users to sign Greenpeace’s petition to stop illegal mining in the Amazon – all without leaving the game.
“What I love about this idea is that it enhances the user experience by using Planet imagery to deliver updated maps, while also making players aware of such a crucial cause for the Earth, one that we should all be supporting and engaging with. This is a virtual game with the potential to have massive real-world impact,” commented AlmapBBDO CCO, Marco Giannelli.
The game’s new dynamic includes four radio channels broadcasting information to users. The first channel explains the activities and the role of Greenpeace Brasil, calling players to step up and become protectors of the Amazon. The second channel explains Planet’ssatellite data and their work worldwide; the third is anamateur broadcast, with a member of the activist group as an interlocutor, which lays out a fictional plot set onthe Munduruku and Yanomami territories. The fourth channel features a Greenpeace Brasil guide and supports users with information about in-game commands and tools.
Players can also publish images of the alerts on their social media, tagging @GreenpeaceBrasil and using the hashtags #FlyingGuardians and #AmazoniaLivreDeGarimpo.
Download the game and explore the initiative here.
Credits
Clients: Greenpeace & Planet Labs PBC
Client Team (Greenpeace): Vivian Fasca, Ana Beatriz Siqueira, Luma Guerra, Jorge Oliveira, Amanda Kamancheck, Ana Andrade, Andressa Santa Cruz, Bianca Silva, Giovana Bianchi, Julia Santos, Nilo Davila, Rickson Figueira & Vinicius Oliveira
Client Team (Planet Labs PBC): Marisa Johnson, Lauren Neville, Lina Torres & Ricardo Guerra
Agency: AlmapBBDO
President & CEO: Filipe Bartholomeu
CCOs: Luiz Sanches and Pernil
Executive Creative Directors: Rafael Gil & Rodrigo Almeida
Creative Directors: Deborah Vasques & Eduardo Vares
Creatives: Felipe Paganoti, Igor Pontes, Rafael Reis & Victor Laars
Special Projects: Julia Newman, Carol Anjos & Júlia Cunha
AV Production: Diego Villas Bôas & Giuliano Springhetti
PR: AlmapBBDO, HUM Comunicação & Giusti Comunicação
Account Management: Carol Anjos and Julia Newman
Digital Production: Lilian Cavallini & Luan Henriques
Technology: Brand Gaming
Head of Development: Rafael Nunes
Senior Developer: João Vitor Machado
Developer: Anderson Pereira Lucas Silva
Graphic Producer: José Roberto Bezerra & Marcos de Souza
Graphic Companies: Focos & Tipograph
Image Production: Vetor Zero
Director: Luiz Alberto Ferreira
Executive Director: Alberto Lopes
Project Director: Márcia Guimarães
Project Managers: Thaís Lopes & Giovanna lucena
Art Director: Luiz Alberto Ferreira
Editor: Pedro Falcone
Motion: Luiz Alberto Ferreira & Bruno Ronzani
Composition Supervisor: Leandro Pena
Post: Livia Portugal
Post-Production Coordinators: Tatiana Caparelli & Lívia Portugal
Team Coordinators: Rosangela Gomes, Ana Mendes & Nathaly Lopes
Post Assistants: Fabio Augusto, Marcos Tavares & Isabela Balbo
Audio Post-Production: Alma 11 11 Audio and Bari Filmes
Musical Direction & Production: Diego Raso
Executive Producer: Carla Bräuninger
