quote:
Wavinator:
Here''s my concept: An RPG-like where you play Cherokee or Apache in the 1800s. It''s completely historically accurate, and does not flinch from the reality of the times; people speak the way they spoke then, and act the way they acted from the historical record.
I like the idea, but I''m not sure how conttroversial it is. What it seems to come down to is Good-guy tries to survive with all odds stacked against him. In the "Controversial game ideal?" thread I think you had a better idea.
quote:
Wavinator:
I know you''re probably joking (or half-joking???) but there''s a huge difference controversy and obscenity. What you''re talking about really is juvenile obscenity, in that it''s goal is to offend rather than provoke (like Maplethorpe''s cross in urine, which was more a hit at religion rather than a thought provoking statement).
To take your example, if you want controversy, cast the player as a young person of color an economically abandoned American inner city. Create an economic and cultural model that rewards killing, car jacking, and drug dealing to pregnant women. Make all other paths insanely difficult. Graphically show it all, especially the consequences, and offer it up as a defiant social protest.
Oh yeah, and make sure just about every gameplay option ultimately ends in poverty, prison or death.
Now __THAT__ would be controversy that you could defend in front of Lieberman and Capitol Hill.
If you cast a character in such a role then you have an instance of Good-guy forced down the wrong path. Of the two ideas, I think the second would send a stronger, more obvious message.
An idea I came up with was to start out with a character and follow him as he''s drawn into a neo-nazi orginization. Circumstances, enviroment, and peers cause him to believe the doctrines more and more strongly. Any other route is insanly difficult. The player is shown things from the characters eyes. A jewish NPC at first seems like a normal good citizen, but as the game progresses the same NPC appears to be more and more evil.
If implimented just as I''ve described it could easilly come accross as nazi propaganda. But I think it''d also stand as a good portrait of a mind sort of thing. Wouldn''t you like to know how an otherwise intelligent person can buy into all that nazi crap? I think such a game would do it.
If it''s too much as is, replace everybody with elves and dwarves and such. Change the uniforms and symbols and it might get past publishers.
Does this idea loose it''s "moral center"? I have no idea what the end conditions would be for such a game. The character could potentially either wind up in prision or go to pass his hatred onto his kids. The bad guy isn''t necissarilly punished for his evils.
I''d never make a game like this though. I don''t think the intelligence and sophistication of the average gamer is high enough to appreciate the message ("this is how people get sucked in"). They''d rather find patches to apply to Lara Croft.
]). It isn''t a long time for game industry... 
