Inspired by anti-war posters, Reid Kimball created a side-scrolling game for the PC echoing the same message.
The posters sparked Kimball’s motivation were created by Big Ant International, under a campaign called What Goes Around Comes Around which backed the Global Coalition for Peace. The artwork is designed to wrap around objects in order to show, for example, a soldier’s gun muzzle pointing at himself.
The game itself, called What Goes Around, is rather simple, and has players fire a Predator missile from a drone (at a UFO adorned with a turban) and then, mimicking the posters, having to avoid the missile as it loops around and comes up behind the drone. The game (7MB) can be downloaded from Kimball’s SparkPlugCreations website here.
Kimball talked about the What Goes Around on his Gamaustra blog:
I have a passion for creating games that explore more serious topics like health, the environment, human rights and war. I don't get to make these kinds of games during my day job but I hope to one day because I believe games can provide very engaging and empowering experiences for people.
Comments
Re: Anti-War Campaign Inspires Game
This illustrates a problem I have with a number of games I've seen that are trying to convey a message or are self-consciously "artistic": The game itself is superfluous. You don't get anything from actually experiencing the work that you couldn't get by simply hearing the concept explained to you.
Check out my video game humor and commentary blog, Pointless Side Quest!
Re: Anti-War Campaign Inspires Game
First, the idea of being "anti-war" is moronic, as EVERYONE who isn't crazy is anti-war. No right-minded human being likes or wants war. With that said, what they really are is "never go to war or fight no matter what," crazies.
Someone already pointed out that unilateral pacifism and copitulation is what got Western Europe into the problem it was in during the 1930s, to which Kimball replied, "I can't see how one can argue that position on unilateral pacifism. Who's to say that more violence in the 1930's wouldn't have sparked even more years later. We'll never know."
I guess he thinks that Hitler would have stopped killing Jews, wouldn't have killed thousands of Brits while attempting to invade their island nation, and would have stopped his advance into Russia on his own. Whereas, if the Western powers had stood up from the beginning, when Hitler took over pieces of Austria and Poland, and they would have kept him from marching all across Europe, destroying the lives of thousands of people, both soldiers and civilians alike.
Not only does this guy have a very flawed world view, but he is also, apparently, a poor game designer.
Re: Anti-War Campaign Inspires Game
Your sentiment is shared by many Iraqis who don't think that pacifism is the correct path to handle their invaders. So you do have a point. You cannot accuse them of being one of these never go to war or fight no matter what crazies.
-Ultimately what will do in mankind is a person's fear of their own freedom-
Re: Anti-War Campaign Inspires Game
Iraqis or Al Qaeda? Civilians or terrorists? Since you are incapable of distinguishing between the two. We (America) are not at war with Iraq, its citizens, or anyone living within that country who isn't a supporter of Islamic extremism or terrorism in general, since it doesn't have to come from extreme Islamic faith.
Also, since you seem to be repeating the same nonsensical arguments from over four years ago, let me update you on the situation. The amount of US military involvement in Iraq has gone down a lot over the last 4 years. A bulk of the security and "fighting," that you are so fond of reminding us about, is actually being done by, now try and understand, Iraqi security forces. Yes, there are still U.S. troops there, but a majority of them are there in training roles, just as they are in Afghanistan.
You're a drone--someone incapable of independent thought. You argue without providing counter arguments at all. Instead, you merely derail the conversation by making snide remarks that do nothing but indulge your poor sense of humor. All that considered... I can't really blame you, since your name is Eric... but with a "k."
Re: Anti-War Campaign Inspires Game
<golfclap>
---
You KILL Vampires. You don't DATE them.
Re: Anti-War Campaign Inspires Game
My thoughts, in a nutshell.
---
You KILL Vampires. You don't DATE them.
Re: Anti-War Campaign Inspires Game
This is the most moronic game concept I've heard of in quite a while.
Re: Anti-War Campaign Inspires Game
So the message is effectively "He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword"?