This year, the festival was highlighted by the “Ga-Cha” Awards, where the finalist games were up for recognition in three different categories: Best Awareness-Raising Game, Best Transformation Game, and Best Social Commentary/Art Game. Additionally, attendees submitted ballots to select an “Audience Choice Award” winner, and several honorable mentions were also given.

The 2007 finalists were:

A Force More Powerful - Honorable Mention for Gravitas

Developed by: International Center on Nonviolent Conflict, York Zimmerman Inc. and Breakaway Games

Project Lead: Steve York

Purpose: To teach people about the effectiveness and applicability of nonviolent strategies in struggles for rights and freedom.

Airport Security - Winner: Best Social Commentary/Art Game

Developed by: Persuasive Games

Project Lead: Ian Bogost

Purpose: The game argues that American airport security policy has little to do with security.

Ayiti: The Cost of Life - Winner: Best Awareness-Raising Game

Developed by: GlobalKids and GameLab, co-developed through an after-school program called Playing 4 Keeps

Purpose: To focus on the issue of poverty, using the country of Haiti as a case study, and to study the impact of the development experience on the teens who made it.

Darfur is Dying - Winner: Audience Choice Award

Developed by: Students at the University of Southern California

Purpose: To raise awareness and motivate action on the genocide in Darfur.

Karma Tycoon

Developed by: Do Something, the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, and 9mmedia.

Project Lead: Aria Finger

Purpose: To teach young people about social entrepreneurship and financial responsibility.

Peacemaker - Winner: Best Transformation Game

Developed by: ImpactGames

Project Leads: Eric Brown, Asi Burak

Purpose: The game challenges players to succeed in bringing peace to the Middle East.

Real Lives

Developed by: Educational Simulations

Project Lead: Bob Runyan

Purpose: To develop understanding of and empathy for people in different parts of the world and in different life circumstances.

The Redistricting Game - Honorable Mention for Procedural Correctness

Developed by: USC Game Innovation Lab

Project Lead: Chris Swain

Purpose: To educate voters about congressional redistricting and its abuse, and to motivate reform.