Not a protest, but related. The game America''s Army that was commissioned by the US army as a propaganda tool.

David,

Thank you.

I would like to extend the quote a bit. (Digital Video) Games are a (space where an) interesting series of decisions (can be contemplated and made, and where interesting consequences can be exerienced). Here I use the term "space" expansively, and not strictly in the cartesian sense.

The decisions, as you point out, are defined by the game designer. The choices presented to the interactor are a variety of definitions of right and wrong, good and bad. We can look at the philosophical definition of aesthetics and see a similar definition. So we are creating aesthetic universes. If we are disciplined in our approaches, then they can have internal coherence. We (game makers) can experiment with the "what if-ness" of the universe by presenting certain options and limiting or denying others. It is in this selection process, and in the exploration of "what if-ness"* that we have an enormous expressive potential.

That potential need not be equivalent to a novel. There are certain things that a novel is very good at. It need not be a movie or cinema for the same reasons. Games incorporate many elements from these other media, and exceed them in certain ways that we are still coming to terms with.

(* sorry for the clumsy expression. I don''t know what else to call it).


Rafael Fajardo
sweat

Henry,

your post points out a question I have been asking myself about "protest". I feel like I might have to parse out certain definitions and terms so as to not be overwhelmed by the connotations, implications and ramifications for the presentation I''m preparing.

"Protest" and "Political"
"Political" and "Ideological"
"Ideological" and "Propaganda"
"Propaganda" and "Advertising"

the associative web can be drawn differently as well. Take a thread, weave a tapestry.


The US Army _is_ attemtpting to use games in a novel way, as propaganda and as recruiting. They have used mods of commercial (and shareware) games as training tools as well. The military has a very sophisticated understanding of "play as rehearsal for reality"

thank you for your contribution


Rafael Fajardo
sweat

rafael,

a friend just forwarded me this thread as i am working on specifically "social issues games" at our think tank in nyc. we''re looking to create new games, and also have an ongoing database (not yet public) of social issue games.

there is also a movement emerging called "serious games" under which social issue games can fall under. (their focus is largely public policy- oriented sims, but the "movement" is acting as a wide umbrella for other "serious" games.) there''s a listserv and database there as well.

i''m out of the country at the moment, and writing on a russian keyboard (oof) but want to be in touch upon my return. please email me.

na zdorovie,

suzanne@weblab.org

America''s Army is an advertising tool. It is not propaganda. Are coke commercials propaganda?

rafael, the game hidden agenda'' was created to demonstrate the difficulties facting south and cetral american countries in their efforts to reform and create just profitable and/or reformed governments.

also i am in a team that has been developing a title tentatively titled ''Revolution: seeds of change'' which deals with post-industrial methods of political change (violent and non-violent) against a number of different government types (democracies, fascist regimes, socialist, corrupt i.e. columbia, etc.) those methods will include all the modern methods as well (i.e. hacktivism, information warfare) and the ways in which they can be successful, as evidenced throughout the last 100 years (all effects based on historical impact, not the deveopers opinions or gameplay mandated, thus you can play an impossible game such as overthrowing a happy and wealthy democracy)

also i have played a game about the polish solidarity movement which appeared to be an attempt at education, possibly for a college course. (soldernask?)

also a game called ''guns or butter, the global dilemma'' and a maxis game, simhealth? that simulated the national healthcare system as an educational tool.

please email me with any questions or comments

Fastjack@hackermail.com

James,

forgive me if my interchangeable use of "propaganda" and "advertising" causes difficulties. In spanish speaking countries the only word for promotional messages, be they political or commercial is "propaganda". I think of it mainly in its persuasive, rhetorical aim. I am trained as a graphic designer. I know how to seduce by arranging images and text on a page, and I have also done so with architectonic space. I am a propagandist. I want to bring someone over to my way of thinking, or that of my clients.

English language splits the idea of a persuasive messages into two possible names.

We can disagree on friendly terms about the looseness or precision of these particular words, but I think we can continue the conversation.


Rafael Fajardo
sweat

quote: Original post by sweat
I''m trying to identify individual games, or individual game developers who are creating video games as a form of social commentary, or as a form of protest.

I don''t think that there are many people working in this vein. I''ve identified few who work within the US, and who identify themselves principally as artists.

Protest may be in the eye of the beholder. Maybe its about subject matter of a game. Maybe it''s about a contrarian attitude in the mind of the maker. I''m trying to reach out to the community of makers to see if there are people who work in this fashion.

Hopefully someone knows someone who knows someone. If you have created a game of this type, or know of one, please post the name, description, and url. I''m also interested in the motivations for producing this kind of game.

Rafael Fajardo
sweat

[edited by - sweat on September 20, 2003 4:54:39 PM]

I have made a game of this kind, but right now the server isn''t working (I think). It should be back up on a new server in a couple of days, though. The game''s name is ''Last Rose in a Desert Garden''. It''s a Short Game (intentionally designed that way) about the world after nuclear war. Check my homepage (http://jonas.gamedeveloper.net) in a couple of days; right now it hasn''t been updated in a long time (due to my moving to another country and a long list of problems), but updating will begin once more in two days.

-----
Jonas Kyratzes - progressive game design & development
Press ALT + F4 to see the special admin page.

I worked a few times with Charlotte Davies at the time I was involved in everything rendering at Softimage. Although most of her work involved high-end SGI machines (i.e. Osmose & Ephemere), she did a few pieces that could be played on home computers. She is still much involved in message-ladden virtual reality and interactive entertainment projects so she can certainly offer some pointers.

Try http://www.immersence.com.

-cb

[edited by - cbenoi1 on September 23, 2003 9:52:44 AM]

quote: Original post by sweat
Edward,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. This revolution project of yours, what motivates the revolution? Is there a back-story in your imagination?

Pick a Central American country fifteen years ago.