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Games That Stick It To The Man
News.com has a piece looking at subversive games with social commentary. The article discusses some titles that hit back against some of the frustrating trends in the industry today. Anti-advergames, specifically one striking out at McDonalds, are mentioned. From the article: "'Behind every sandwich, there is a complex process you must learn to manage,' Molleindustria said in a statement. 'From the creation of pastures to the slaughter, from the restaurant management to the branding. You'll discover all the dirty little secrets that made (McDonald's) one of the biggest companies (in) the world.' Neither McDonalds nor Kinko's responded to multiple requests for comment" More commentary from Guardian Gamesblog on the subject.
We all know that gamers have no problem distinguishing between games and reality, and that their ethics and behavior are not at all changed by, for example, games of violence and criminal activity. Therefore, this enterprise is doomed to failure.
The premise is this, some radical elements of a religion, really pisssed off over cartoons that were published on the other side of the world, riot and kill people in protest for depicting their religion as being violent, intollerant of free expression and hateful. People seeing these folks reacting like this (violence, murder, etc...) now see this particular religion as being: violent, murderous, and everything that the protestors say they're not. So what happens? People become really afraid of this religion because their actions prove the cartoons are correct. And when people become afraid , they start to do some radical things. Here's were I think I'll have this game go: there's another Holocost for this particular religion except:
It's done to some other religion besides th Jews.
It's done by multiple states - i.e. all over the world ( war on terror ya, know)
This time, no one stops it because the victims (of the holocost) refuse to live in this world with anyone who doesn't beleive the way they do.
n/t
It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
As if nobody had ever played emogame...now there's a game with political content....
This is just old-fashioned "cultural work," as the communists used to call it. Use a popular art form to drive home political messages. Songs, dances, operas, novels....all can be used as propaganda. Why not games? The U.S. Army sems to think so--witness the success of the America's Army game.
would be a certain Japanese game where you roll over The Man - and pigs, cows, cars, buildings, towers, airplanes - to get enough to put Stars in the sky for your father the King of the Universe.
Katari Damashi is the name, I think. There's two other sequels to it.
-- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
Maybe it would be better to realize that this "message" is totally and completely racist, bigoted and prejudiced. Of course, all of "them" are ticking immoral, barbarian time bombs ready to turn into terrorists that blow up innocent children. Better not make 'em mad. Because, you know, "they" are all the same.
Sometimes it's best to just let stupid people be stupid.
I've tried to play that anti-McDonald's game. It was not fun at all - and its "criticism" of the company was infantile drivel. And what "advergames" does McDonald's have? Mick & Mack: Global Gladiators (92, Virgin Games) and McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure (93, Treasure/Sega). The main difference: they are actually fun!
Circumcision is child abuse.
A better one would be one where you pick as an ally a murderous fundamentalist, train him as a terrorist, arm him, and pay him billions of dollars, then are suprised when he turns the weapons you gave him back on you.
Or you could just watch the movie "The Siege".
I got a copy of Steer Madness as a gift a while back. It's pretty good. It's organized around missions and plays a lot like GTA, except it eases you into the world of protest against corporate interests. It really sucks you in. You start by putting up harmless stickers around town, and before you know it you're ... well, you'll have to see for yourself. After playing for a while I realized that, while The Powers That Be make a big fuss about how awful GTA is, if they haven't seen this game, they really have no idea how subversive and insidious a game really can be. I recommend it for that reason alone.
Oh good, because everyone has been asking for games that preach to them.
If you were to actually make that game, the Muslim extremists would call for your head on a platter. Some well-financed Muslim might issue a fatwa calling for your execution, like they did with Salman Rushdie. Cat Stevens would probably support your execution. You'd have to live your life in hiding.
My other first post is car post.
Comment removed based on user account deletion
Sorry to reply twice, but I just skimmed a blog article that helps put the violence and outrage in context
f _theres_hell_below_is_this_where_we_shall_all_be_s pending_xmas_.html
http://www.civitas.org.uk/blog/archives/2006/02/i
Basically, the writer contends that a bunch of Danish Imams took these cartoons (plus others) on a 'tour' of the Middle East to whip up some fury.
Now the really interesting part is when this blogger explains why they did this. He thinks it is because Denmark is going to become chair of the UN Security Council... and guess who is getting referred to the Security Council?
Iran.
Read his conclusions, he makes an interesting argument.
[Fuck Beta]
o0t!
The online game mocking eBay's rise in fees called FeeBay had people throwing debris at Meg and Peter and other powerful eBay types. It's several years old too.
Ever played Simbabwe? Its pretty nasty, and political. The same goes with all the games made by DailyGrind.
I would be hypocritical to say I do not like advertising because of the partially free stuff it funds, like TV channels and certain webpages. But, I can't think of an advert that has persuaded me to buy something, they have made me aware of something- which is obviously their point, maybe I've answered my own questions but a lot of adverts are for a load of fucking bolocks. Anything I buy is either from the shelf, or I've done some research into it (something expensive). well wtf
I know what my problems are.
Until I see "fatwas" or whatever they're called from the Islamic leadership or some other strong condemnation of these rioter's actions who call themselves Muslims, I will think that the Islamic people in this world condone the rioter's and terrorist's actions. End of story.
Actions, or lack of, speak louder than words.
There is an inferiority complex among the group who refers to others as "the man". They assume that "the man" is pulling strings behind the scenes and that there is no way that they could ever hope to beat "the man" except through violence or hatred campaigns.
Consider this. Just for a moment, clear your mind of all the hatred and pent up rage within your soul. Then let's think logically for a moment. Let's assume that votes really count, that politicians really do have to get elected, and that the government is really ultimately run by the politicians, when push comes to shove. Who is "the man" that is oppressing the people? It is the government. But the government is made up of politicians, or people accountable to politicians. And the politicians are elected by the people. So "the man" is really "the people". People are abusing themselves.
Let's look at it another way--"the man" being corporate suits. Where do they get their power? From their money. Where do they get their money? From the people. If the people stopped eating at McDonalds or buying Nike shoes, these companies really do go out of business. And the corporations really are held accountable to the politicians. When they really screw up they get thrown in jail for real, that is, when the politicians want them in jail. And who elects the politicians?
In both cases, the power ultimately rests with the people. There is no need to fight "the man" except by participating in politics and participating in business. In fact, you yourself can become "the man" if you figure out how to get elected or how to make a billions dollars a year. "The man" is a position that is held at the whim of the people. If they don't like you, you don't get elected. If they don't like your products, you don't get your money.
When you fight against "the man" you are really fighting against the people in this country. Keep that in mind.
The radical sect of Islam would either see you dead or "reverted" to Islam.
Activist games are not really that new, though it's nice to see them getting some more mainstream press. Here are some other good examples that I saw at the 2005 Digital Games Research Association (DiGRA) conference in Vancouver:
Escape From Woomera, http://www.escapefromwoomera.org/
Built on the Halflife engine, you are a Palestinian refugee trapped in a concentration camp in the Australian outback. It plays like an adventure game; you talk to people, collect items, trade with other prisoners, all in an effort to escape. The activist spin: just like the actual concentration camp occupants it's based on, there's no way for you to escape and win the game.
Blowhard, http://quasi-cause.com/blowhard/index.php
Two players wear respiration masks and try to out-blow their opponent. The harder you breate, the faster your "threat meter" (a la the US threat index) builds up. First to reach Red/Severe wins. The display is very retro 8-bit Nintendo, and the installation was quite neat, complete with plastic drop-sheeting and official-looking quarantine notices.
Those were the most activist-oriented productions that I saw while I was there. Nice to see people doing interesting things with games!
"Extremists" are just people, like any other, driven by emotions and reasons. Villainizing them and dehumanizing them is failing to understand the real problem.
The real problem being that "extremists" actively work to harm individuals who have done nothing to harm the extremists and pose no direct threat to anyone?
This form of extremism in any cause is indefensible, and the reason we have so much violence is that extremism fails to drive enough of the people who matter to violence and hate-- the members of a rational civil society who should take an absolute and uncompromising stand against extremists who advocate or cause harm to innocents, whether they're American politicians, suicide bombers, racist agitators, or media commentators.
Understanding the perspectives of others and empathizing with them should never take precedence over establishing the rule of law and requiring all members of a society to respect the basic human rights of others.
Choosing to be driven by by emotions and disregarding the rights of others? That's well and good. Let he who is without emotion and fully cognizant of the rights of others decide whether to let you have a warning shot...
"We have to go forth and crush every world view that doesn't believe in tolerance and free speech." - David Brin
Incumbency, Redistricting, and the Decline of Competition in U.S. House Elections
p sa/spsa.html
http://www.emergingdemocraticmajorityweblog.com/s
First Google hit on - rate incumbents redistricting
But I don't see Christians rioting in the street, setting things on fire, and calling for people to die over these things, do you?
US abortion clinic.
'Nuff said.
Anyone quoted by a reporter knows how little they understand
Don't believe what you read is the truth.
Aw, come on, where do you get your news? Fox News?
Religions don't "go nuts". People do, regardless of their religion.
One of the pictures distributed by the Danish Imams was supposedly of Mohammad dressed as a pig. Photocopies featured on many of the news items about the subsequent protests.
Of course, it was actually a picture of a Frenchman at a pig-squealing contest. The Danish Imams had either been hoodwinked by someone with malicious intent, or their own motivations were suspect. Here's a link to the original at Neandernews