In 2009, Facebook statuses still asked “What's on your mind?” users still “poked” each other, and seemingly everyone was playing FarmVille.
In the game, users could raise livestock, harvest crops, and plant trees on a customizable farm. The farming simulator was so popular that it boasted 83.76 million active users at its height in March 2010.
FarmVille has had several revivals through the years, with FarmVille 2 in 2012 and FarmVille 3 in 2021.
In the game’s latest update, FarmVille creators Zynga Inc. partnered with the Public Benefit Corporation Dots.eco for an in-game campaign that allows users to protect endangered species and plant trees in vulnerable areas.
“For a limited time, players will have the opportunity to purchase an in-game bundle that grants them one of a limited number of ‘dots’ — trackable and authentic certificates that verify they have contributed to environmental conservation causes,” Zynga Inc. shared in a press release.
Although the game itself is free to download, the bundles are available for in-game purchase.
“Bundles, which also include in-game gems and coins in addition to the ‘dot’ certificate, can be purchased through FarmVille 3’s main menu upon opening the app,” the press release continues.
“While there is a limited quantity of bundles to be purchased, there is no cap to the number of bundles and ‘dots’ a player can buy. There are numerous bundles available and each serves to protect real-world wildlife habitats.”
According to their website, Dots.eco has transformed billions of “casual actions” into real-world impacts in 45 countries, benefitting over 40 vetted environmental organizations leading ocean clean-ups, coral reef restorations, sea turtle rescues, rewilding efforts, and more.
“For every interaction, we add a positive environmental reaction,” reads a mission statement on Dots.eco’s landing page. “Your TripAdvisor reviews plant trees. Your event attendance protects the planet.”
Since launching in 2022, Dots.eco has planted 1,595,604 trees, cleaned 793,156 pounds of ocean-bound plastic, protected 1,024 acres of wildlife habitat, and saved 869,733 sea turtles.
“We are proud to partner with Dots.eco, a trusted organization aimed at maintaining and bettering our natural world,” said Kishore Kichili, the senior vice president of games at Zynga.
“FarmVille is a series that has always celebrated nature, so for our players to have a chance to make a real-world impact through the game is a very exciting opportunity.”
One in-game campaign currently goes towards rewilding grizzly bears in Montana’s Cabinet-Yaak Grizzly Bear Recovery Area by supporting Vital Ground’s efforts to plant 3,000 trees on fragile land.
Dots.eco founder and CEO Nadav Gross said that the collaboration allows the latest version of the farming simulator to generate a “measurable real-world impact.”
“FarmVille 3’s decision to add Dots.eco’s environmental incentives to its bundles is particularly powerful, creating a double incentive for players: to directly support nature while deepening their enjoyment of the game they love,” Gross noted.
He added that it’s “the perfect match between entertainment and environmental action.”
FarmVille 3 is currently available to download on Android and iOS devices.
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Header image via Zynga Inc. and Roboflow Universe (CC BY 4.0)
