Games have long been used as an educational tool, and not just for kids. Canadian Akoha, for example, encourages players to be more kind. Now, along similar lines, Play Rethink invites users to redesign everyday objects to make them more sustainable.

Play Rethink ("The Eco-Design Game") is an effort from London-based Rethink Games to help people think—or rethink—how to make everyday objects and services more socially and environmentally friendly. Each game includes a multicoloured wheel and 98 drawing cards along with an eco-strategies key card and an instruction sheet with activities. With each spin of the wheel, players get a card asking them to rethink a particular everyday object, such as a chair or a vacuum cleaner. They then describe their idea for a more sustainable approach by drawing it on the card. Ideas players are particularly proud of can be uploaded onto the Play Rethink website, where others can rate, comment and be inspired by them. What's more, each month Rethink Games selects one idea to serve as the project of the month, and it's currently working on setting up partnerships with organizations that can help develop those ideas further. Play Rethink is sold online and through select London retailers. Pricing is GBP 24.95, with refill card packs available for GBP 5.95 each. Corporate workshops to help promote innovation are also available.

Facilitating the idea generation process is all very good and well, of course; what will make this really interesting, however, is a way to turn the best ideas into reality. RedesignMe found a way to do that through partnerships with manufacturers, and it also took the critical step of paying the Generation C(ash) consumers whose ideas got used. Play Rethink may be a game, but it's also another way to tap into the global brain. Who will help pave the way toward some real results? (Related: iPhone game gets kids into the (hidden) park.)

Website: www.playrethink.com
Contact: info@rethinkgames.com

Spotted by: Estee Chaikin

Given the remarkable speed with which children can tire of their toys, it's not too surprising that we've seen toy rental services emerge in both the US and—more recently—France. Since the very same phenomenon tends to occur with video games, it makes perfect sense to see a brand-new startup that focuses exclusively on that category of entertainment.

Like both Babyplays and Dim Dom, California-based SmartyRents uses the Netflix model to help parents keep their children aged 9 months to 10 years old challenged and entertained. The effort was launched just last week by two former teachers, which is why it also focuses on games with an educational bent. Included in its inventory, for example, are top games from LeapFrog—including Little Leaps, Clickstart, Leapster and Didj—and from Vtech, including V.Smile Baby, V.Smile, V.Motion and V.Flash. Parents begin by signing up and choosing from among four rental packages, depending on how many games they'd like to have at one time. Monthly pricing ranges from USD 9.99 for one game at a time to USD 24.99 for four games at once. They then choose the games they'd like to start off with—the site even lets them search by the educational skills emphasized—and their selections get sent to their door along with a prepaid mailing envelope to use to return them. Games can be kept for as long as children enjoy them. Sending a game back prompts the next game on the family's list to be sent; alternatively, those that are too hard to part with can be purchased for the site's listed “Love it” price.

Whether it's toys or college textbooks, baby clothes, designer dresses or cellphones, freedom from the bonds of ownership is increasingly the way to transumers' hearts. SmartyRents, however, currently serves only the US; one to emulate for kids and parents in other countries?

Website: www.smartyrents.com
Contact: www.smartyrents.com/contact.php

Spotted by: Susanna Haynie

There are plenty of opportunities for companies to demonstrate their generosity even during the best of times, but when disaster strikes, there's a much greater potential to make a difference. That, no doubt, was part of the motivation behind last year's Bushfire Housing, and it's also surely at work in social gaming company Zynga's Haiti Relief Fund.

Starting this past Thursday, Zynga is conducting a special relief campaign in three of its top games—FarmVille, Mafia Wars and Zynga Poker—which together reach more than 40 million users daily. Specifically, players of those games can now purchase limited-edition in-game social goods, and 100 percent of the proceeds will go towards supporting emergency aid in Haiti. Within FarmVille, there's white corn that will not wither if left unattended for a week; in Mafia Wars, there's a Haitian drum. Zynga Poker fans, meanwhile, can buy a special chip package in exchange for a rare premium item. Users can also donate directly to the World Food Programme, which has set up an emergency response team to distribute food and other relief to thousands in Haiti.

Yet another shining example of the corporate generosity now being expected by what our sister site calls Generation G, Zynga's Haiti Relief Fund is one to be emulated as soon—and as often—as possible! (Related: Donated site helps families keep their homes.)

Website: www.zynga.com
Contact: businessdevelopment@zynga.com

Millions of teens around the globe are already well-acquainted with Habbo, the popular virtual world aimed at those aged 13 to 18. Now Sulake, the Finnish creator of the site, has launched Bobba, a counterpart designed for mobile phone users 16 and older.

Launched into beta last month, Bobba bills itself as a "pocketsize virtual world" that's designed for use on mobile phones. Much as with Habbo, users can create avatars, build and decorate their own virtual surroundings on the site, and meet and interact with other users. More than 11,000 accounts have already been created; supported phones include a variety of models from Nokia, LG, Samsung, Panasonic and Lenovo; support for iPhones and the iPod Touch is coming soon.

Of course, besides enabling virtual product sales within the site, communities like Habbo and Bobba also provide a nicely targeted way for other businesses to meet and interact with particular segments of consumers—much the way Dutch Postbank did when it set up a presence on Habbo. After all, in today's socially networked world, the effectiveness of advertising is limited at best. Instead, companies must reach out to consumers where they naturally spend their time—and for legions of mobile users 16 and over, that just might turn out to be Bobba. One to watch!

Website: www.bobba.com
Contact: business@bobba.com

Spotted by: John Greene

To be eligible, games must be in good condition and include the original manual, cover art and case. Amazon's Video Game Trade-In site lists a wide variety of games it will accept, along with their trade-in values. For Wii, for example, "Marvel Ultimate Alliance" is valued at USD 6, "Winter Sports the Ultimate Challenge" brings in USD 6.50 and "Super Paper Mario" is valued at USD 15.50. On Xbox 360, on the other hand, "Call of Duty: World at War" brings in USD 24.25. For shipments valued at USD 10 or more, Amazon even gives consumers a way to ship them for free. Upon receipt, Amazon deposits an Amazon.com Gift Card into the consumer's account. The games, meanwhile, are ultimately purchased by a third-party merchant. While trade-in prices might not be as high as a seller can get on eBay, there's no denying that Amazon's service is the more convenient option.

Until economic conditions begin to improve, consumers will continue to seek out recession-busting strategies to make their hard-won dollars, euros and yen go further. Help them do that, and you just may be able to do some recession-busting yourself! ;-)

Website: www.amazon.com/Video-Games-Trade-In/b/ref=amb_link_83819451_2?ie=UTF8&node=979418011
Contact: www.amazon.com/gp/help/contact-us/general-questions.html

Spotted by: Bjorn Verbrugghe

We've written about several technology-enhanced games that aim to get kids to exercise; one we hadn't seen, however, was an online game that strives to promote social change. Sure enough, though, Akoha is a new, reality-based game that uses mobile, web and real-world challenges to ask the question, “What if playing a game could make the world a better place?”

Launched into public beta in December, Akoha challenges players to carry out missions that involve performing small acts of kindness for others. Each player gets equipped with a deck of 24 mission cards—priced at USD 5—each of which describes a challenge to be carried out. Examples include “Donate an Hour of Your Time,” “Give Someone a Book” or “Send Drinks to a Couple in Love." Each card also includes a Mission ID number that's used to track the mission online. Every time a player performs one of these missions, he or she hands the card to the mission's beneficiary, or the person who receives the act of kindness. That person can then log onto the game's site to register receipt and write a short description of their experience of the mission, complete with photos or videos if desired. From there, they can explore the game and begin conducting missions of their own. The original player, meanwhile, enters their own description of the mission and earns points for completing it, allowing them to advance in the game; they can also track the influences of their missions around the globe, with each person's story of receiving and forwarding the mission documented online. The general idea, then, is that more players get recruited along the way and more good deeds get performed around the world. Players can also suggest their own mission cards, and they'll soon be able to custom-design their own mission decks as well.

Akoha is another nice example of what our sister site calls the OFF=ON trend, whereby the lines dividing the online and offline worlds are becoming less clear. By late January players of the game had carried out more than 2,000 missions in 33 countries—60 percent of them having joined Akoha because they received a mission card. Through a community challenge with charity partner Room to Read, Montreal-based Akoha will sponsor the construction of a new library in Nepal once 25,000 missions have been completed. Akoha also plans to begin offering sponsorship opportunities for organizations to give Akoha decks to their members. One to try out, partner with, or otherwise get involved in...? (Related: Clothing brand asks its wearers to be kind.)

Website: www.akoha.com
Contact: info@akoha.com

Spotted by: Khady Beye

The fact that Green Irene, Green Grannies and Green Groove have all graced our pages in just a few short weeks recently is a fair indication of today's increasing focus on sustainability. Now joining that list is Climate Culture, a virtual world that combines guidance, community and games to help consumers reduce their energy consumption.

Centered around a patent-pending carbon footprint calculator, Climate Culture offers users personalized advice on the amount of carbon, energy, dollars and other resources they expend through hundreds of lifestyle choices and daily actions. The site's Personal Energy Advisor tool uses regionally specific datasets that reflect the types of energy generated, temperatures, incoming solar radiation, energy prices and other factors determined by ZIP code to power many of its personalized calculations. Users who join the free site begin by entering some basic information to calculate their current carbon footprint, and then choosing an avatar. They then find themselves on a virtual island that reflects their current level of energy consumption. The Reduction Center guides users to make changes in their lifestyle that will reduce their carbon footprint, such as installing a tankless water heater or using CFLs instead of traditional lightbulbs. For every reduction they make, users earn points that give them higher social status in the community along with access to more and more features in the site's online store for customizing their avatar and their world. Users can also earn points by helping friends green their lifestyles and by challenging others in real-world carbon-reduction contests. In addition, a variety of multiuser games can be used to earn points as well: each time a user plays or wins, one of Climate Culture's corporate sponsors donates money to offset 10 pounds of carbon dioxide.

Climate Culture is reportedly planning a pilot project in Connecticut through which it aims to help whole towns become more energy-efficient, according to a report in Matter Network. Its business model, the report suggests, involves having residential energy savings certified by the state and then selling them as Renewable Energy Certificates to energy suppliers.

New York-based Climate Culture currently supports users only in the US, with support for Canadian users coming soon. One to partner with in an area near you....? (Related: Rewarding consumers for driving less.)

Website: www.climateculture.com
Contact: info@climateculture.com

Spotted by: Bella Laird

We've written about a number of games designed to get kids off the couch and into some exercise, but recently one of our spotters alerted us to one we hadn't yet seen: DigiWall, a structure that combines a climbing wall with gaming.

Designed for use in public places like museums and shopping malls, DigiWall is a climbing wall with high-end surround-sound whose grips include both lights and sensors that react when they are touched. A variety of games, contests, challenges and creative experiences are possible on the wall as a result, using a combination of visual and audio feedback and body movements. Games currently available, for example, include simple ones based on physical activity and speed as well as more complex ones involving flexibility, bodily control and tactical skill. New games are also being added all the time, the wall's Swedish maker says. When not in use, DigiWall becomes a decorative sound and light installation.

Much like Wii, location-based games and gyms that use games to keep kids moving, DigiWall could be another weapon in the battle against childhood obesity—not to mention a novel and entertaining public attraction. Kid-friendly restaurants, stores, malls, museums—even airports or schools: This one's for you! (Related: Poolside climbing walls — In-store wave riding.)

Website: www.digiwall.se
Contact: info@digiwall.se

Spotted by: Susanna Haynie