Game aims to prevent crisis pregnancies

A NEW online interactive game for 18-25 year olds aims to encourage correct and consistent use of contraception. The game, “A Night to Remember”, which has just been launched by the Crisis Pregnancy Agency, is available at www.thinkcontraception.ie/game.

Players are able to adopt one of two personas – “Paul” or “Emma” – as they get quite well acquainted in a nightclub. What happens next is up to you as you choose a character and accompany him or her as they face a set of dilemmas about whether and how to have sex.

Director of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency, Caroline Spillane, said: “Research tells us that 18-25 year olds know about the importance of using contraception, but fail to use it consistently and often take risks when sex is not planned for.

“By giving users the chance to see the possible outcomes of sexual behaviour in a digital arena, the new ‘Think Contraception’ interactive drama aims to encourage sexually active adults to plan for, talk about and ultimately use contraception correctly each and every time they have sex.”

The game aims to give players a “dry run” at dealing with that tricky unplanned sexual encounter. Players can even try a little role reversal to see how the other half feels as they answer a series of dilemmas. Your answers will determine the safe outcome of your sexual encounter – or not.

If “Paul”, who likes “hurling, making music playlists, smart girls with big smiles” and, of course, “Emma” make the decision to have sex without using a condom, he will find out that there are 350 million chances of Emma getting pregnant after unprotected sex. “It only takes one sperm,” says the game.

“Emma”, who likes “bargain hunting, cheesy music and stubble on guys”, but is not partial to “talking about soccer” or “cheap aftershave”, chooses caution and attempts to buy condoms in the toilets and then a shop – unsuccessfully in both cases. And the moral of the story? Be better prepared next time Emma. You never know what could happen.

According to Ms Spillane, “This new initiative aims to connect with web-savvy adults and highlight the importance of using contraception to help prevent crisis pregnancy.”

Leslie Walsh (23) said she thought the game was good for “18 and 19 year olds”, who would get “a bit of craic” from playing. She suggests that players try to answer questions differently each time so they access all the available information.

She conceded she’d learned something, though. “I’d never considered checking the expiry date on a condom,” she said.