BBC looks at political commentary in gaming

by Ben Zackheim { Aug 31st 2004 at 11:28AM }

Though this BBC article is a little short, it does dare to touch on the possibilities of political perspectives in gaming. The piece mentions some of the tamer uses of games for social commentary. Toting titles like Tax Invaders, where Dubya fights for our right to lower taxes, seems to miss the point. Games are an art form. They can lead you through a place (Myst) or an idea (Black & White), making you see yourself, or the world, from a different point of view. The BBC's example of Tamatipico, a game where you are the boss of a small company, is probably the best example of how games can show us the world in a new way. The true measure of a man is what kind of boss he is. This is a new industry, so it's good to see any kind of discussion along these lines, so kudos to BBC for trying.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Ethan Watrall @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

So, are you saying that art can't be political?

Cheers,

Ethan

Ben @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

I think games are an art form, and I think art can be political. My only argument with the BBC peice is that it lacks focus on the kinds of games that can be considered both political and art. Tax Invaders is a distraction. From what I've read about it (never having played it) Tamatipico tries to get you involved in political decisions that reveal more about you and the world around you. I would say Sims Online is a great political game, for example.