THE US Department of State has released “X-Life the Game,” its first game for mobile devices. X-Life is better described as a series of small, interrelated adventure modules which explore one idea. How would your life have been different if you had chosen an alternate career? How would it have impacted you? Your family? The world around you? In each X-Life module, the player gets to try a different “X-Life” and rise to the top of that module’s featured profession. The first two X-Life modules are “X-Life: Driven” and “X-Life: Babangar Blues.” Further titles in the X-Life series are currently in pre-production.
X-Life will help gamers learn English as well as facts about US history, society and culture during their discussions with the other characters in multiple cities and dozens of different surroundings. The game is available as a free download from www.xlifegames.com for Nokia N Series and Sony Ericsson P1i handsets. The website, xlifegames.com, also serves as a social network where users can invite their friends to join, keep track of their X-Dollars and Educational Points earned in the game and redeem their points to upgrade their virtual environment. A forum at the website is available for users to report any issues with the game or to get game playing tips. X-Life is already attracting players in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran and Iraq.
X-Life is fun but it was created with a serious purpose. The game aims to encourage cultural exchanges between Arabic, Persian, and English speaking cultures, demystify American culture, and break down barriers that impede mutual understanding. The US Department of State has leveraged the latest in mobile technology in order to introduce X-Life users in the Middle East and Gulf region to American culture in a way that is designed to be nonthreatening and constructive.
The game was developed by the Bureau of International Information Programs (IIP) and the Global Strategic Engagement Center (GSEC) in collaboration with X-Life Games, a subsidiary of Reston, Virginia-based, Metrostar Systems, a New Media technology solution provider for the US federal government. X-Life Games LLC was founded in June 2008, by MetroStar Systems Inc. with gaming industry veterans Neal Hallford, J.R. Register, and Ghafur Remtulla.
“X-Life, the game, is a series of interrelated adventure modules which explore one idea — what unites us, rather than what divides us,” said Ali Reza Manouchehri, CEO, MetroStar Systems, Inc. “Middle East and Persian (Arabian) Gulf youth will have the opportunity to experience the dynamism and vitality of American life. X-Life projects the fundamental values that Americans cherish: tolerance, freedom, and respect for cultural and religious differences.”
Manouchehri’s desire to heal longstanding divisions and dramatically improve relations with heretofore international adversaries stems from personal experience. A native of Virginia, Manouchehri moved to Iran to finish his high school education in the early 1990s. Upon completing high school, he joined his father’s textile business and spent the next two years selling yarn in one of Tehran’s traditional bazaars. He then moved with his family to the US to pursue his BA in Philosophy at George Mason University.
The years in Iran had a profound impact on Manouchehri. He was shocked to find the country to be radically different from what he had imagined and seen portrayed by divisive media. He quickly learned that commonalities far exceeded differences and gained an appreciation for the indomitable spirit of Iranian youth and their openness to America and its culture, finding common ground through art, dance, music, sports and food.
Throughout his experience in Iran, Manouchehri was able to adapt to varied ideologies by realizing universal commonalities — a key philosophy he has translated into the driving force behind X-Life.
His passion for breaking down cultural barriers is evident not only in his work with X-Life Games, but also in his work in the education arena. He has developed and implemented various key programs within MetroStar aimed at providing internships, job shadowing and development opportunities for overseas students studying in the United States. Manouchehri passionately believes that technology can change lives and help solve seemingly intractable problems.
“X-Life Games is the embodiment of ‘e-Diplomacy,' and reflects the new 'soft diplomacy' approach favored by the Obama Administration,” said Manouchehri. “The path-breaking mobile application pioneers e-Diplomacy by utilizing an emerging new media platform to engage the minds and hearts of overseas audiences.”
