Where is your CVC code?
I’m not a video game person, but I just learned about one that I will definitely try out. It’s called Riot, and it’s a low-tech simulation of the global unrest over the last few years.
Here’s the piece that makes me so excited: Players are allowed to pick to be either the police or the protesters. But this is no Grand Theft Auto, in which those countering the police also engage in violent, masochistic and criminal actions. (Killing sex workers is definitely not part of the game.)
Instead, the game was partially inspired by the Italian developer’s own experiences attending a peaceful highway blockade. Although the protesters were calm, the police responded by shooting smoke grenades and terrorizing the crowd.
Similarly, in the game the protesters have to use organized sit-ins and other actions in order to outwit the armed officers. But it’s not all peace and love — for either side. Both police and protester players have the ability to choose to act morally or to act immorally, which seems to me to be a pretty accurate representation of how these events play out in real life.
Even though all protesters may not choose to be Gandhi figures, the game is still unique in weighing the morality and authority of both sides, police and protesters, equally. Few, if any, current video games cast state power in such an ambivalent light. A further twist is that the game is not set in any one place, but allows players to choose various settings, from Greece to Egypt to New York City. The global nature of the game furthers the message that it’s not only one regime whose authority is being called into question. Instead, the entire idea of the state apparatus (embodied by its security forces), is worth fighting.
No word on when the game will be ready, but I’m certainly looking forward to it. Watch the trailer below, and a hat tip to comrade Colin Moynihan at the Times for finding this game.
Well I am a video game person, or at least a recovering addict. (Sober for like 10 years!) This game certainly looks more like something along the lines of “riot porn” in a way that seems to risk really confuse people as to how people really organize and build power.
On the far other end of the spectrum is ICNC’s People Power: The Game of Civil Resistance. More accurate, probably, but not in the most thrilling way.
I see what you’re saying, and I had a similar reaction the first time I saw the trailer. That said, I really like the moral ambiguity of the game — at least from what I’ve read about it so far.
I think what might decide whether the game is riot porn or somewhat constructive will be how “winning” is achieved and quantified. For example: If people have the ability to break off from the crowd to light a police car on fire and that results in extra points and no crack down, the game is probably not all that constructive. That said, if the path to victory is through crowd-based, organized actions (and the latter example would actually lead to losing), I think that’s really interesting.
Then again, this might just be our proclivity to non-violence organizing speaking. I’m sure Diego will love the game 🙂
Well, I just think of my favorite old video game, Command & Conquer. It was all about war and blowing things up, but really the vast majority of one’s time was spent preparing for the battle — organizing troops and resources and trying to make strategic decisions about what it would take to win. The danger of pure “riot porn” is that it casts pure violence as necessary to win; in fact, no matter who wins on the streets, in the end power goes to those who are organized. Just look at Egypt and the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood. The street battles created a rupture, but a highly organized, grassroots network — and not the young internet geeks — ended up assuming power.
I mean, even with all the time Diego has spent getting arrested, he’s still spent a lot more time building relationships, growing networks, coming up with schemes, etc. Right?
That’s true, I do agree that the danger of riot porn is that it casts violence as necessary to win. What I’ll be interested to see is whether the game includes non-violent mobilizations, and how those will play out compared to street violence.
I will check out ICNC, although I suspect it may be a little boring.
Nice thoughts, awesome article. I agree with both sentiments, the idea of “riot porn” is obviously both distasteful & sends the wrong message, but also, a game like this would be awesome if it’s put together well (I haven’t played the game so I can’t comment on it specifically). Hopefully it incorporates the importance of organization, solidarity, and the more inspiring & beautiful elements of activism.
Thanks Frank for weighing in! I always love the commentary you add on facebook, and I always wish you’d comment more on the site itself so other readers can see your thoughts 🙂
I agree with you that we just need to wait and see how the game ends up. That said, since it’s still in the development phase, I bet we could have an impact on how it turns out if we put some pressure on the creators to incorporate the aspects you mentioned above, especially solidarity and nonviolent organizing.
Maybe we should start writing him emails letting him know what we think?