What is Save Our Progress?
Whether we’re on a quest to save a princess or become the best like no one ever was, as video game fans, we’ve all had shared experiences farming for mats, grinding out levels, and journeying across unknown lands. One shared experience we’d like to focus on is the all too familiar screen that says: “Would you like to save your progress?”
We’ve been thinking about this phrase a lot at Fandom Forward over the last year… It'd be nice if we could move through life like we do in video games, saving our progress along the way! Instead, it seems like the opposite has been happening: we’ve been witnessing the rolling back of many of our fundamental rights – reproductive freedoms, trans and LGBTQIA+ rights, access to knowledge and books – over this past decade.
Election cycles can bring up a lot of stress, and the stakes are higher than ever in 2024. However, instead of drowning in despair, we are choosing to turn to video games for inspiration. After all, one thing we know for sure is that video games are capable of crafting powerful narratives about our collective experience and inspiring mass participation.
Introducing: Save Our Progress
Save Our Progress is a get out the vote campaign to train and guide video game fans through the process of creatively planning and organizing voting actions within their video game fan communities. By the end of this campaign, video game fans will walk away with tools on how to infuse fandom and fun into civic engagement while networking with like-minded fans along the way!
Something to keep in mind as we approach this campaign and election year is that change doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time. A lot of time. The rights we have today are possible through decades and centuries of organized campaigns and actions. The actions we take today are crucial in saving the progress we’ve made so far and in laying the foundation for future progress.
Interested in learning how to get started with organizing your own fan action for this year’s elections and having some fun along the way?
TAKE action: Join the Quest
For over 18 years, Fandom Forward’s heroes have traversed through many fandoms - working together to turn fans into heroes and leading campaigns and quests that approach our world’s problems with joy, creativity, and a commitment to equity.
Not sure you have what it takes to be a hero?
Well, at Fandom Forward, we believe that heroes aren’t born - they are developed through practice and support. Join our quest in imagining a better future and taking the first step towards making that future a reality. By combining our powers together, we can make a difference.
Side Quests
Learn About Fan Activism
Whether you’re new to fan activism or just need a refresher, you can use our Level Up series as a quick tutorial on what fan activism is and how to incorporate the passion of fandom into your civic engagement.
Check out our bite-sized tutorials.
Follow along via our newsletter.
Prepare to Engage
The countdown for the 2024 elections is upon us. Check your quest log, stock up your inventory, and make sure you’re ready to vote come November.
Check out Vote America’s list of everything you need to vote.
Tip! Scroll down to the bottom for links to state specific information.
Navigating an election year can be overwhelming. How does the election process work? How do you go about talking to others about the election and issues you care about? What steps can you take to prepare for election day?
Check out our “walkthrough” for tips on navigating these puzzles.
Check Out Our Game Night Series
Our Campaigns Director joined Stella on stream to play Stardew Valley and talk about the importance of voting and Save Our Progress.
Bio: Stella Jo is a lesbian streamer and content creator from New York City. She's live multiple times a week playing chill games with the goofiest of vibes. Her content spaces strive to make the gaming world a better place for women and queer folks through laughter, education, and fostering a supportive and caring community!
Nai created a cozy reading nook in Animal Crossings: New Horizon while talking about the importance of knowledge and voting.
Bio: Nai is a Latina variety streamer on Twitch who focuses on having a welcoming and relaxing community. You can usually find her playing games that can be used as a creative outlet such as ACNH, The Sims and more!
Salem published a video on their YouTube channel discussing queer characters in gaming and advancements made in queer culture as it relates to the importance of voting.
Bio: Salem is a writer, gamer, and moth enthusiast! You can usually find them researching niche topics, bothering their cat, or listening to emo music.
Tyler played Infinite Craft during the stream, and with some help from the chat, we managed to create democracy within an hour! Throughout the stream, we also talked about the importance and various ways of getting involved with civic engagement on local levels.
Bio: Tyler is a queer variety streamer on Twitch and one of the most influential LGBTQIA+ vloggers who you might know from his days on YouTube. He's also the co-host of "Psychobabble" - a weekly pop culture podcast.
Support Save Our Progress!
Join Our Book Club!
There’s one thing for sure about Fandom Forward: we love a good book. Grab your mugs and gather around as we contemplate various tomes and scrolls.
A one-time donation of $35 (or more!) gains you a lifetime membership to our Book Club!
This year, our book club is engaging with democracy through books that center issues we care about.
Click below to see what we’re reading next!
Buy Books!
We believe that everyone should have equal access to knowledge and that our stories should reflect the diversity we see around us.
Stock your shelves via our Bookshop to show the authors of banned books that we support them no matter what!
(Bookshop is a website that supports local, independent bookstores with every online purchase. Use the link below to support Fandom Forward.)
Get Good News!
Amidst the doom and gloom the Minions of Misinformation determinedly cast around us, it’s important to notice and appreciate the positive progress we’re making.
The Goodnewspaper is a physical newspaper, released monthly, fighting against a world full of hate by celebrating the people, ideas, and movements that are changing the world.
With our referral link, you can get your own copy of the Goodnewspaper, support Fandom Forward, and join Good Good Good’s online community, the Neighborhood.