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Games That Stick It To The Man

Posted by Zonk on from the take-that-business-figurehead dept.

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.

7 of 147 comments (clear)

  1. I have a game idea... by IAAP · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Based on this FTFA: One is Gonzalo Frasca's "September 12," in which players shoot missiles at terrorists in a small village. The fun quickly turns political, however, as villagers mourning friends and relatives accidentally killed by the missiles morph into terrorists themselves. The message, clearly, is to think about consequences.

    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.

    1. Re:I have a game idea... by IAAP · · Score: 4, Interesting
      Before violence erupted there were calls for boycotts (perfectly reasonable) to which the EU responded by threatening them if they dared to boycott a member state.

      No excuse. And I've never seen anyting about boycots. Again, no excuse for the violence

      They tried peaceful means first. Violence only came later.

      Still, no excuse.

      Second, these images of Muhammad are as offensive to muslims as it would be to christians to depict the Virgin Mary getting fucked by a pig with the caption "Technically, she's still a virgin."

      There would be outrage, but there wouldn't be any of the violence and murder that is occuring now. Any religion that will go nuts over a cartoon but not the murder (by them) of innocent people (not of their religion or even their version of their "faith") is a pathetic excuse for anyone that calls themsleves "children of God". Think of all the times Sunnis, Shiites, etc.. are all exterminating each other because they don't beleive the "right" way.

      Again, there's no excuse for acting like animals.

    2. Re:I have a game idea... by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 3, Interesting

      IMO, the whole muslim world is WAYYYYY too sensitive about this issue. I find it ironic when they insult the jewish and christian religions in their cartoons it's all good, but when someone else does something similar it's the end of the world!

      First, it is not "the muslim world" it is particular individuals. Second, christians are not currently the subject of what must seem to them (and many objective observers) as a crusade where their countries are invaded by foreigners from another continent with another religion who kill them, mock their religion, sell off all their resources and land, and print pictures of their men being raped. Second, they are being purposely manipulated into this action by people with a political interest in things, as the three most offensive cartoons (like the one showing a dog fucking mohammed) were never printed in any newspaper that anyone can find and seem to have been made or disseminated by european muslims to aggravate the situation.

      If you honestly think a bunch of scared and angry hicks from texas would not attack a foreign embassy in response to published cartoons of jesus having intercourse with a pig, if they felt threatened and thought it likely they would be conquered by invading muslims in the near future then you don't understand people in general (and probably have never watched the 700 club).

    3. Re:I have a game idea... by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Once again, religion is shown to be what it is - a system of control that leads to evil deeds.

      What an interesting statement. Religious, moral, and ethical beliefs are all subjective; as is the entire concept of evil. Religion did not cause this violence, people acting specifically to incite anger by attacking and disrespecting the beliefs of others did, and it was wholly intentional. The same type of behavior could be triggered by nationalist, philosophical, or many other kinds of belief. Anger, as I said, is the instinctual response to remove a threat by destroying it. They were attacked and they responded. It would be the same as if under very stressful conditions, where mathematics were being outlawed and mathematicians burned if someone insisted on yelling in your face "Pi is exactly three, bitch." Maybe you would react calmly, but maybe, under extreme stress and fear you would react violently. We all have beliefs and breaking points.

      What I AM saying is that the general, public perception of all Muslims is only harmed when they find out about things like this.

      And I'm saying that public perception, that prejudice of judging muslims only as a group is just as wrong as the violence some particular muslims committed.

      ...they find sacreligious because of their stupid ignorant ridiculous unsubstantiated religion.

      Ahh yes, lets ridicule the beliefs and religions of others. Obviously then, you have all the answers. Tell me then, what is the nature of reality and thought and the fundamental basis for ethics. Now tell me in simple terms how should all communities co-exist and resolve disputes? There is plenty of real, useful reasoning in islam, just as there is in christianity and buddhism. To claim that a religion is "wrong" and its adherents "stupid" is the pinnacle of hubris.

      Furthermore, attacking an embassy is itself a statement that you are not interested in rational negotiation

      I think we previously established that the individuals in question were reacting emotionally, rather than with reason.

      Don't make assumptions about what I think. You want to know what I think? How's about fucking ASKING me? Don't tell me. I don't respond well to that kind of bullshit.

      Fine, but you were responding to what I had written by attacking the concept of understanding the perspectives of others. You're the one who made both moral judgments and assertions that my comments explaining the perspective of others was "the reason we have so much violence." If you do not want to be considered intolerant, show tolerance. If you do not want be seen as unsympathetic to the suffering of others show empathy. All your remarks were attacks on understanding and I for one reject such holier than thou crap. If you can't put yourself in the shoes of another and understand their reasoning and perspective you have business judging their actions, or condemning them.

  2. Re:Geez by tbannist · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I think you only got part of the point. It's not that they are all ticking time bombs. You created an artifical difference between us and them. What's the difference between the U.S. Army and the Terrorists? The U.S. Army has better funding and organization.

    Some people will see that as an indictment of the U.S. Army, it's not. It's the simple observation that when you screw with people's lives they get angry, get weapons, and screw you back. That's human nature, we're all capable of violence to protect the ones we love.

    It's only racist because you choose to believe it's racist.

    --
    Fanatically anti-fanatical
  3. OT by TubeSteak · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Sorry to reply twice, but I just skimmed a blog article that helps put the violence and outrage in context

    http://www.civitas.org.uk/blog/archives/2006/02/if _theres_hell_below_is_this_where_we_shall_all_be_s pending_xmas_.html

    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!
  4. Re:But how good are the games? by xilmaril · · Score: 2, Interesting

    this is kinda offtopic, but it's important. there is a disgusting violation of human rights going on in mcdonalds all across the world. mcdonalds employees, already highly degraded, are being forced to play The Fry Game. I couldn't find any screenshots, but I once worked for a mcdonalds, and I was forced to sit in front of a computer pretending to fry and serve mcdonalds french fries, for about an hour. it was the most agonizingly boring hour of my life.

    It was not actually fun!