Extra Credits scribe and game designer James Portnow is crowdfunding a project that he hopes will change the general public’s perception of gaming.

Portnow is seeking money for his Games For Good initiative, a year-long project that will see him lobby US politicians about proposed anti-games legislation, reach out to grant organisations in a bid to get “better” games funded, and hold a game jam that will focus on producing games with a scientific or educational component.

“If we ever want to realise the potential that games have as a scientific, educational, cultural medium we can’t just talk about why games aren’t bad, we have to get the world to ask the question: ‘What good can games do?’” said Portnow.

“I'll be reaching out to every media outlet I can and having the dialogue wherever I can because I don't want my nieces and nephews to grow up and have to fight this fight.

“I don't want them to have to be embarrassed about their hobby or live in a world that misses out on all the good games can do because we never really tried to change the conversation,” he said.

The entire project will be documented by Portnow, and he also plans to release a guide on how to get games with a scientific or educational component funded.

Games For Good has surpassed its US$50,000 goal, and at the time of writing has raised US$58,830 with just 28 hours of crowdfunding remaining.

There are several funding tiers, but notably those who donate US$10 (NZ$12.53) to the project get a copy of excellent indie adventure-RPG To The Moon, which retails for US$10 anyway.