A "Will You Do My Job For Me?" Post

larissa · 11-13-2010, 03:55 PM

So I teach a college class on protest art and literature--The Jungle, Martin Luther King, Harvey Milk, the feminist movement, etc. In two weeks I have a unite coming up on "Protest for the 21st Century", about using the internet and new media to protest. Stuff like protesting via twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and so forth.

Question: Does anyone know of a video game that could be considered a political protest? I'm sure there's something out there, but I don't game enough to know. Any ideas are welcome, though it would be especially great to have something that's amateur/freeware and short so kids could actually play it.

Thank you!

***fov*** · 11-13-2010, 05:59 PM

I don't know about games created as a form of political protest, but there have been games with political themes that might work. Check out the list of serious games here for some ideas.

*Fantasysci5* · 11-13-2010, 06:42 PM

Now I don't know if this will work exactly, but it seems to me that parts of "Dreamfall" were political commentary about occupation of the Middle East, but I'm not sure.

rayvio · 11-13-2010, 11:54 PM

most games tend to be more subtle than other forms of media about things like this. but possibly the best place to try would be the video games section of TVTropes Anvilicious article

larissa · 11-15-2010, 02:03 PM

Thanks for all of the ideas!

Edit: fov, that list was great (I just got killed foraging for water in Darfur), and the other list looks useful too. I agree about Dreamfall's political message, but I don't want to make them play through all 20+ hours or whatever it is.

Christian IV · 11-18-2010, 05:01 PM

The most useful and valid form of "protest" is to take affirmative action no matter how small on one's own or with a few trusted fellows. Sadly a serious study of politics and governance going back 1000 years and more shows that humans tend to "politicize" things that they are afraid to face personally and seek strength in numbers and rabble rousing, slogans, movements and speeches when a single act of kindess or contstructive sharing would go much much farther. You might try teaching that instead of seeking to entertain your students with games and famous figures. Take them on real help missions and show them that real action is far far better than all the talking and thinking in the world.

A game with an activist theme is Beyond Good and Evil tho again you have to play quite a bit of the game to get to the issues.. Mostly politics and activists dont have the patience to "play" enough of a game to get into the issues.

Origami · 11-18-2010, 05:19 PM

Metal Gear Solid games. Surprised no one mentioned them.

larissa · 11-19-2010, 02:41 PM

Christian IV--actually, one of the protest writers I teach--Thoreau--agrees with you. The rest--Martin Luther King, Harvey Milk, Cesar Chavez, Frederick Douglass, Thomas Jefferson, Susan B. Anthony, John Kerry, Eugene Debs--could hardly be accused of favoring talk over action.

11-13-2010, 03:55 PM	#1
larissa Member Last Online: 06-23-2011 11:46 AM Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 31	A "Will You Do My Job For Me?" Post So I teach a college class on protest art and literature--The Jungle, Martin Luther King, Harvey Milk, the feminist movement, etc. In two weeks I have a unite coming up on "Protest for the 21st Century", about using the internet and new media to protest. Stuff like protesting via twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and so forth. Question: Does anyone know of a video game that could be considered a political protest? I'm sure there's something out there, but I don't game enough to know. Any ideas are welcome, though it would be especially great to have something that's amateur/freeware and short so kids could actually play it. Thank you!

11-13-2010, 06:42 PM	#3
Fantasysci5 Stalker of Britain Last Online: 04-26-2013 07:28 PM Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Missouri, US Posts: 4,535	Now I don't know if this will work exactly, but it seems to me that parts of "Dreamfall" were political commentary about occupation of the Middle East, but I'm not sure. __________________ "And everyone's favourite anglophile, Fantasy!"-Intense Favorite Adventure Games-Lost Crown/Dark Fall 1&2, Longest Journey games, Myst games, Barrow Hill Favorite Other Games-King's Bounty, Sims 2, Fable, Disciples 2 Gold Currently Playing-Trine 2 Games I Want-Kings Bounty: Warriors of the North!!!, Asylum, Last Crown, Braken Tor, Testament of Sherlock Holmes

11-13-2010, 11:54 PM	#4
rayvio Senior Member Last Online: 08-27-2011 11:33 PM Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: UK (I miss Belgium!) Posts: 509	most games tend to be more subtle than other forms of media about things like this. but possibly the best place to try would be the video games section of TVTropes Anvilicious article __________________ Playing: Edna & Harvey: The Breakout non-adv: Oblivion (very heavily modded), Planescape Torment recently finished: Gray Matter, Alter-Ego, Whispered World non-adv: Dragon Age: Origins again and again... Melody Gloucester Pegasus

11-15-2010, 02:03 PM	#5
larissa Member Last Online: 06-23-2011 11:46 AM Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 31	Thanks for all of the ideas! Edit: fov, that list was great (I just got killed foraging for water in Darfur), and the other list looks useful too. I agree about Dreamfall's political message, but I don't want to make them play through all 20+ hours or whatever it is. Last edited by larissa; 11-15-2010 at 02:08 PM.. Reason: To add more brilliance

11-18-2010, 05:01 PM	#6
Christian IV Adventure Game Researcher Last Online: 06-12-2019 05:43 AM Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, California Posts: 537	The most useful and valid form of "protest" is to take affirmative action no matter how small on one's own or with a few trusted fellows. Sadly a serious study of politics and governance going back 1000 years and more shows that humans tend to "politicize" things that they are afraid to face personally and seek strength in numbers and rabble rousing, slogans, movements and speeches when a single act of kindess or contstructive sharing would go much much farther. You might try teaching that instead of seeking to entertain your students with games and famous figures. Take them on real help missions and show them that real action is far far better than all the talking and thinking in the world. A game with an activist theme is Beyond Good and Evil tho again you have to play quite a bit of the game to get to the issues.. Mostly politics and activists dont have the patience to "play" enough of a game to get into the issues. __________________ The Future is the Promise of Today Becoming Real Admin 3D Worlds and Game Developers Group Linkedin Game Research and History http://3dworldandgamedevelopers.blogspot.com Game Patches and Aides http://www.filefront.com/user/CrisGer Patch and Fix Packs

11-13-2010, 05:59 PM	#2
*fov* Rattenmonster Last Online: 03-19-2013 04:05 PM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Francisco Posts: 10,404	I don't know about games created as a form of political protest, but there have been games with political themes that might work. Check out the list of serious games here for some ideas.

11-18-2010, 05:19 PM	#7
Origami Senior Member Last Online: 11-27-2012 12:43 PM Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 492	Metal Gear Solid games. Surprised no one mentioned them. __________________ Golden Age Murder Mystery fanatic

11-19-2010, 02:41 PM	#8
larissa Member Last Online: 06-23-2011 11:46 AM Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 31	Christian IV--actually, one of the protest writers I teach--Thoreau--agrees with you. The rest--Martin Luther King, Harvey Milk, Cesar Chavez, Frederick Douglass, Thomas Jefferson, Susan B. Anthony, John Kerry, Eugene Debs--could hardly be accused of favoring talk over action. Last edited by larissa; 11-19-2010 at 08:57 PM..