EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State University FCU partnered with the University’s College of Communication Arts & Sciences and Games for Entertainment and Learning Lab to develop a finance game for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch targeted at university students and other young adults.
Spartan Villa was designed to address common financial challenges – such as implementing a monthly budget and learning how credit works – by creating a realistic financial system embedded in a fun, low-pressure game world, MSUFCU said. The game introduces players to critical financial concepts through the virtual management of college houses, making players responsible for expanding and maintaining their houses by using their finances effectively. Paying bills on time, allocating funds to the proper accounts, and monitoring their monthly spending allows players to purchase rooms to expand their houses, host social events to attract future tenants, and increase their overall credit scores.
“At MSUFCU, financial education is a top priority, and we provide many resources to help increase the financial literacy of MSU students and our local community,” said April Cobes, chief operating officer for the $2-billion credit union.
