Video Game Helps Teach Young People About Debt

A new video game designed by the University of Idaho is helping teach young people and adults all about the dangers of debt.

Extension Professor Lyle Hansen said they have received grants from Northwest Farm Credit Services and CoBank to help develop this game.

“What better way to teach kids about credit scores but in a gaming format and a fun environment using zombies.”

In the game, debts are represented by zombies and the payments towards those debts are used to keep the zombies at bay and maintain a good credit score.

Hansen said that zombies are very popular for not only young people who can learn the lessons early, but for adults who can be reminded of the riskiness of carrying too much debt.

“This game is set up to mirror what youth will have later on in life and it ingrains, hopefully, the good examples of how they can build a credit score.”

Currently the game is only available for iPads, but Hansen is hopeful to expand that soon.