Towards the end of May, Microsoft delayed Halo 2 for Windows Vista because of "an unfortunate, obscure content error which includes partial nudity." Microsoft might be saying no to the inclusion of pornography in games, but the company is saying yes to socially responsible gaming. While sex has become a vital commercial incentive, Microsoft failed to associate it with Halo 2 for Windows Vista. The Redmond Company is instead focused on high impact social issues such as hunger, conflict, racism and environmental degradation, and not on the average block-buster.

In this context, Microsoft has announced a partnership with Games for Change (G4C) designed to deliver social change to the gaming environment. "Socially responsible gaming is using video games as a medium for creating and encouraging social change. Over the last several years we've seen a number of really exciting projects emerge in the interactive gaming world. These are games and projects that take the best art and science of digital gaming and apply it to a whole new purpose. Some of the most interesting games I've seen recently tackle the economics of oil production; alternatives to conflict and war; the tragedy in Darfur, and they all identify ways you can take action in the "real world,"" said Suzanne Seggerman, co-founder and president of G4C.

"At Microsoft, we couldn't wait to get involved, because the category is such a perfect intersection of our business and technology strengths with our corporate passions. We believe we have the responsibility to make a positive impact on the world and we know we can use gaming as a powerful means to help make the world a better place," Jeff Bell, corporate vice president of Microsoft Global Marketing, Interactive Entertainment Business.

The fourth annual Games for Change Festival at Parsons The New School for Design will be the stage where the two organizations will attempt to bridge social responsibility and gaming. Additionally, Microsoft has also announced the debut of the Xbox 360 Games for Change Challenge which requires the competitors to design games based on the theme of global warming with the help of the Microsoft XNA Game Studio Express software.