A University of Oxford study revealed that people who play 'Planet Zoo' donate more to wildlife conservation than non-players. Notably, the positive effect of gameplay experience was found to be even greater for reptiles, which are generally less popular with the public.
The study involving Oxford researchers was detailed in 'Commercial video games improve species-related knowledge, perceptions, and action,' published earlier this month. The researchers noted concerns that overexposure to virtual animals could distort perceptions and value judgments of real-world species, and to test this, they conducted an online experiment with 272 Planet Zoo players and 273 non-players.
The experiment focused on animal species featured in the game. Participants identified species names and conservation statuses, answered questions regarding their affinity for each species and perceptions of extinction risk, and then decided how much of a maximum 20 pounds they would donate toward species conservation.
Analysis revealed that players with longer playtimes and more recent play sessions identified species names and conservation statuses more accurately, while demonstrating higher affinity for the species, greater awareness of extinction threats, and higher donation amounts. The average donation amount for players was 7.16 pounds, exceeding the 4.68 pounds average of non-players, and the frequency of donating the full 20-pound limit was three times higher. In numerical terms, the overall ratio was about 1.5 times higher.
When comparing responses toward in-game animals versus real-world animals, no negative effects were observed regarding virtual animals. The positive effect of gameplay experience was found to be greater for reptiles than for mammals.
The researchers stated that, where appropriate, more game developers should participate in bridging the gap between virtual and real-world nature.
Meanwhile, Planet Zoo was released on PC in November 2019, with its sequel, 'Planet Zoo 2,' launching on the 13th. The new title introduces aquatic animals and birds to the series for the first time.
