Flash Games as Political Commentary

Clive Thompson writes "All over the net, there are little shockwave games inspired by political events -- from the WTO-style New York Defender to War on Terrorism to even Downing Street Fighter (where British politicians beat each other senseless, Street-Fighter-Style). Sure, like most Shockwave-generated stuff, they may suck as games. But that's missing the point. What's happening here is nothing less than the emergence of the online video game as a form of social comment -- something you dash off in a couple of hours to make a sardonic political point about something. It's a new notepad for communication. Or at least, that's what I argued in this piece in Slate today. In addition to the craven self-promotion of sending it in to Slashdot, I'm interested in hearing what everyone thinks of this issue. After all, courts have recently been arguing that video games cannot be protected speech; these games make it patently obvious that this view is insane." The columnist missed a better example of the genre - the EFF's game of digital restrictions management.

imniportant

[avandesande]

geeks always think that what they are doing is more important and has more social relevance than it is. Where Katz when you need him?

Gentle ribbing

[IIRCAFAIKIANAL]

But that's missing the point. What's happening here is nothing less than the emergence of the online video game as a form of social comment -- something you dash off in a couple of hours to make a sardonic political point about something. It's a new notepad for communication.

Whoa, settle down Katz, their just games ;P

Good Lord

[El_Smack]

Someone, somewhere has cloned Jon Katz.

One social commentary game...

[Chagatai]

that has grabbed my attention is Dance Dance Karnov [somethingawful.com]. This game has changed the way I think about fat, naked, Russian, ex-carnival persons in our society. For example, what is the impetus of having large sweaty men wear tassles on their nipples? How would the size of a mutant Godzilla-fish thing impact the stock market? This requires further analysis.

I got jypped!

[Guppy06]

"WTO-style New York Defender"

And here I was hoping I got to run around in riot gear beating tree-hugging hippies senseless... I call false advertising on this one!

Re:Isn't a sign of the times...

[American AC in Paris]

[Isn't a sign of the times...] and of our continuing infantilism that our political views are expressed through games?

Oh, I don't know. I much prefer political views expressed through games than, say, political views expressed through Dick Cheney.

On a bit of a tangent, I'm waiting in horror for the day when Cheney comes storming up to the podium, sweating like a pig, chanting and clapping:

"in-VADE-Iraq! in-VADE-Iraq! Say it with me!
in-VADE-Iraq! in-VADE-Iraq! in-VADE-Iraq! in-VADE-Iraq! in-VADE-Iraq! in-VADE-Iraq! in-VADE-Iraq!
Whoooooo!!!
Yeahhh!!!"