A New York-based nonprofit is hoping to strike a philanthropic spark with Karma Tycoon, a new online game for teenagers and a creation of the non-profit DoSomething.org. The idea was to put a twist on popular video games in which players try to maximize profit in order to amass wealth. "Why not create a game that maximizes karma in order to make the world a better place?" asks Aria Finger of Do Something. Karma Tycoon was officially launched on Dec. 21, 2006. Players who register at the site can pick the type of nonprofit they would like to administer, such as an animal shelter or a homeless shelter, helping them generate an interest in social entrepreneurship as well as teaching fiscal responsibility. According to Finger, the early response has been very positive and version 2.0 is on its way.
