News

Breakaway, a free, groundbreaking electronic sports game for boys ages 8-15, is the first to use football (American soccer) to tackle tough social issues – fair team play, bullying, violence, and gender equity, and now it is available online. World-famous football star Samuel Eto’o, striker for the Football Club Internazionale Milano and captain of the Cameroon national team, is the ambassador for the game. He is also featured as a character in the game who helps to train and coach players.

Over the course of the game and interactive narrative, Breakaway players master the skills of a true champion. Players are presented with a number of choices where they have to make tough decisions and face the consequences. The narrative is woven between practice sessions and team matches, connecting respect for the game on the field and respect for teammates and peers off the field.

The game is available in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese. Phase Two of the Breakaway initiative will begin in 2011 with the conversion of the game to a mobile platform in order to reach as many children in developing countries as possible, where Internet connectivity is less accessible and reliable than mobile devices.  

Breakaway is created by Population Media Center and The Emergent Media Center at Champlain College. The project is sponsored by the United Nations Population Fund. Play the game at www.breakawaygame.com.