iHobo is a ‘virtual pet’ app with a difference – your ‘pet’ is a homeless person.
While that may sound a little crass, it’s actually a tastefully presented app that might just change the way you think about the plight of the homeless.
iHobo [iTunes link] is a game that takes place in real time over three days. Presented with a realistic, animated homeless man you get the choice to give him a sleeping bag, food or money. Take your choice and that’s it… until you start getting push notifications on your screen updating you on the man’s status. Late at night I got told that he was cold and needed sleep. A quick tap of the sleeping bag icon sorted him out. Make the wrong choices and you could put the iHobo in danger of a drug overdose or death.
It’s a simple game but having the plight of the homeless person on my mind changed the way I thought the next time I walked past a beggar in the street. The game actually instilled a sense of guilt in me when, having ignored the ‘hobo’ for a few hours, I was told by the app “He has been offered drugs to block out the cold. If you were here he might not have accepted them”. There’s even a stats screen that shows the man’s wellbeing, body temperature and daily calorie intake, as well as how many alerts you’ve missed.
The free app was created (pro bono) by Publicis London to raise awareness of Depaul UK, a charity devoted to youth homelessness in the UK. The idea of the app is to get a young audience engaged in the issue. Depaul says that its current donors are largely aged 65+. Users who are sufficiently moved to can donate money to Depaul from within the app.
iHobo is essentially a “Tamagotchi with a social conscience”, and it’s well worth experiencing.
why does the youtube video say not for onward distribution? am I not supposed to share this on facebook?
That’s a good point Christine – I wouldn’t worry, they shouldn’t make it embeddable if they don’t want it sharing!
Great app.
I managed to disallow the app to push notifications!
I deleted and reloaded it and it won’t left it push notifications to my phone. I don’t know if he needs any help?
Any ideas? Cheers.
how do i allow push alerts, i disallowed them, uninstalled the app, then re-installed it, but it still wont let me recieve push alerts….so i dont know if the guy needs help
How come I can’t give my hobo things when I click on the sandwich and money and things
Unless you check on the lad every 10 minutes day and night, he will be offered and take drugs. Is this app designed to fail so you make a donation?
Is a homeless person a hobo?
This app is a joke there are no push notifications to let you no wen he needs help and everything seems to happen in the middle of the night and I’m made to feel guilty when I didint help him but I was asleep! Wen I woke he had overdosed and wad near dead but he didn’t die I was ragin cuz he’s doin my head in throwing away food when I give him it!
This is a terrible app. It just seems very poorly made in an attempt to encourage people to donate to the charity. I’m all for the charity and the good work it does, but the app is terrible. I have gotten rid of it.
I looked after him as tho he was my first born son and because I missed 1 alert at 3am while I was asleep he turned into Pete Doherty instantly. Harder work than my two real kids this fella !
lol @ Rich
If you disallowed push notifications you can re-enable them by going to the iPhone settings screen – then select notifications and the iHobo application should be listed below. From there you can choose which ones you want on…
iHobo is a new and inventive way of helping the homeless and marks the start of a new trend businesses are using to help out. Facebook’s StreetRivals game has a similar approach and aims to raise awareness of homelessness through fun and community building. Last year the company behind StreetRivals (Farbflut) donated a 5 figure sum to homeless charities and influenced players into giving online donations. For more information see:
http://www.mnilive.com/2010/05/csr-supporting-the-homeless-through-facebook-iphone-games/
On the first days I tried the app, like the second day I someone offered him drugs. I’ve started again today, and have being looking after him perfectly. Just leave the app open all day, then you’re always there. :) Obviously, you have to like feed him/give him a sleeping bag/give change every so often, but it’s all good. Right now my hobo’s sleeping. And hopefully, he won’t wake up XD
I like this app but its kind of annoying i live him for abit next thing I know hes gone and taken some drugs. Oh gosh this really does relate to real life dosent it but anyway ive started fresh and know hes fine :)
i need push notifications to be able to play how do i get them? :/
you go to settings – Notifications tap on iHobo then turn them all on ;].
Why isn’t the app on iTunes app store anymore?I got a defence newspaper today telling me to check it out and it’s not even there! Why advertise something that doesn’t exist!
when i give him a sleeping bag, why doesnt he sleep in it, its so frustrating, somene help :L?
I can not get the notifications to work?!!! They are turned on but stil I’m not getting any!!! It’s so fustrating how can any1 be able to play without it ??
This app is ruining my life :P
I try and give him money because i get told off when i wasn’t there to give him money for hot food, then i get told off for giving him money because he’s gone to buy drugs with it!
THEN if i don’t give him money, and check his vitals, give him food or a sleeping bag.. he chucks it away!!
Plus, why can’t we get notifications about when he needs help?
Also.. i’m not being funny.. but i’ve tried to keep him alive for the whole 3 days about 8 times now, and failed miserable because 1) I HAVE A LIFE & A JOB AND YOU DON’T SEND PUSH NOTIFICATIONS, and 2) BECAUSE HE ALWAYS ENDS UP HOOKED ON DRUGS!
damn this app.
Can someone e-mail me why notifications might not work or if they will turn on please? Email me at – tobyiscool99@hotmail.co.uk
Thanks.