The Cut: Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this project?
Why is this program needed?
How can it be used in my school?
Where can I download curriculum materials?
How do I introduce the game to my students?
How can I see what the game looks like?
How can students get new content or another version of the game?
How can middle school students create personalized versions of the game?
How can we create a version of the game for our school district?
Will the game be available to youth outside the schools?
What kind of computer is needed to play the CD ROM game?
To whom do I send comments, recommendations or bug reports?
Who do I contact for assistance with this program?
Who is involved in this project?
How can I donate to or sponsor this project?
How do I find out more about the project?

What is this project?
Overview
The Cut™ is a smoking prevention program for middle school students that includes a 3D, first-person perspective CD ROM game, curriculum materials, class activities and this Web site. The idea for this project and some of the game's content come from high school students who desire to share the benefits of a smoke free lifestyle with their younger peers. This program consists of three components: The CD ROM game, this Web site and the Curriculum.
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Why is this program needed?
The average age of first use of tobacco products in 1999 among all persons who ever used in their lifetime was 15.4 for cigarettes, 20.5 for cigars, and 16.7 for smokeless tobacco across all age groups. (Tobacco Use in America: Findings from the 1999 NHSDA). Rarely do people start smoking after their 18th birthday. Tobacco companies know this. Documents seized from tobacco companies prove that they have targeted youth. Cigarette advertising in magazines popular with youth has increased significantly since the 1998 legal settlement (that prevents tobacco companies from advertising on billboards). Also, smoking in movies has returned to levels higher than those observed before the issuance of the first Surgeon General's report on smoking and health in 1964.

The middle school years represent a critical window of opportunity for reaching youth with the smoke-free message. This program uses emerging technologies (Web and 3D gaming) that have clearly captured the interest of this target audience. These tools, along with a discussion-oriented curriculum, combine to make a very effective program for smoking prevention.
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How can it be used in my school?
This program is designed for use as a staff-directed middle school class, however, it may be adapted for use in other ways:

Distribute CD ROM game to students for use at home
Schools without computers that meet the minimum system requirements for the game can offer the CD ROM to students on a 'giveaway' or loan basis. (Most home computer systems are able to play a 3D game.) The counseling department may want to select 'at risk' students to receive the CD ROM or offer it to students enrolled in the health classes. Also, since the games and activities at our Web site (theCut.org) are not 3D and therefore do not require the level of computer that the CD ROM game does, schools that must loan out the CD ROM may want to involve students in the Web-based parts of the curriculum at school. (See 'Pick and Choose' curriculum.)

Make CD ROM game available, informally, to students at school
Schools may make the game available to students for use at school on an informal basis: The library could check out the CD ROM to students or school support staff could set up a room in the counseling office where students could play the game. The game could be loaded on the computers in the school's media lab or made available over the school network for students to play during free periods. Students may also visit this Web site and use the online activities associated with the game.
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Where can I download curriculum materials?
Curriculum is available from this Web site.
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How can I introduce the game to my students?
Tell your students that the idea for The Cut™ came from high school students* who wish to share the benefits of a smoke-free lifestyle with middle school students. Some of the game's content and all of the voices are created by high school students. Non smoking teens are featured in the portal videos and as Poseurs (teen smoker characters). Many of the teens involved in the this project have watched friends and family members become addicted to tobacco during the middle and high school years. They hope this program helps remind young people that they deserve a better life. (Related discussion topics and activities are available in the curriculum area of our Web site.) An animated opening clip is located ehere (Shockwave).

*If students in your school district have created their own version of the CD ROM game, then you would inform your middle school students that your local high school students helped create this game and they are featured in it.
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How can I see what the game looks like?
To see screenshots of the April 2004 version of the game (created for school districts in Washtenaw County, Michigan) go here.

How can students get new content or another version of the game?
We will soon be releasing another version of the game that will have new features, content and methods: The location of the portals will change with each play of the game, level 2 and 3 will have new dangers and Poseur (teen smoker opponents). Players who have this next version will be able to download new content as soon as it becomes available from our Web database. This new content will include different ad images, quizzes, portal videos and Poseur characters. Much of this new content will be created by high school students involved in the program. To be notified upon the release of the new version, send us your e-mail address.
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How can middle school students create personalized versions of the game?
We will soon be offering student authoring options for middle school students: Students will be able to assemble their own Poseur characters (teen smoker opponents), choose tobacco ad images for the walls of the labyrinth and create quizzes for the traps. Middle schools may then opt to participate in a 'game play competition.' (Middle schools within the same district or from different districts will exchange and play personalized versions of the game.) Please contact us for more information.
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How can we create a version of the game for our school district?
School districts will soon be able to provide middle school students from that district with a version of the game created by high school students from that district. This peer mentoring approach is a very effective way to convey the smoke free message to middle schoolers. That message is more relevant to them if the game is created by and features their older peers from the high school they will soon attend.

Middle school players from your district will watch video clips of non smoking students from your local high school sharing how staying smoke free has allowed them to participate more fully in teen culture. Players will see their local high school's drama students parody young smokers as they assume the exaggerated poses of the game's teen smoker characters. The local high school's graphics students will shoot the non smoker video clips for the portals as well as scan and prepare tobacco ads from locally available magazines for the game's traps. Students in the language arts classes will write the quiz questions and multiple choice answers for those traps.

Your middle school students will be able to use a software product, created in their own community, featuring familiar faces, names and places. They will hear a positive, smoke free message, delivered in their own language by their older peers, with edge and humor.

Your district's high school students will also benefit from involvement in this collaborative project: They receive training in highly marketable graphics skills, gain experience creating a published work and interact with local professionals during production sessions. Each student participant will receive credit on the CD ROM and a copy of the final product for his/her portfolio. The high schools and departments will also be credited and the schools will be permitted to freely distribute the CD ROM throughout their district. For more information on how your district may participate in this program contact us.
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Will the game be available to youth outside the schools?
Yes, The CD ROM game will be available at video stores, malls, teen hang outs and movie theaters in each school district.

April 2004: Currently the game is available (free of charge) to youth outside schools (as well as in the middle schools) in Washtenaw County, Michigan. If you are a Washtenaw County merchant and would like your business to be a distribution site for the CD ROM game contact us.
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What kind of computer is needed to play the CD ROM game?
See the minimum system requirements for the CD ROM game.

To whom do I send comments, recommendations or bug reports?
Send all comments, recommendations or bug reports to Insite Mentoring Program.
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Who do I contact for assistance with this program?
Feel free to contact us with any questions you have that are unanswered by the areas of this Web site.
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Who is involved in this project?
This has been a collaborative effort involving individuals, businesses, foundations, schools and other non profit agencies. See collaborators.
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How can I donate to or sponsor this project?
We welcome your donations. Insite Mentoring Program is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization and donations are tax deductible. These may be sent to our postal address. We will promptly return documentation for your tax purposes.

If your foundation or school district would like to sponsor this program please contact us for more information on partnership options.
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How do I find out more about the project?
Feel free to contact us with any questions you have that are unanswered by the areas of this Web site.
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