this is a transcript of a conversation i had on facebook about a video game idea. enjoy.
me
"i have an idea for a game that you guys might like. its kind of a survival mystery horror game set in modern day. you, the player face the rise of a authoritarian politician. every turn in the game has decisions the player must make that will affect the story in the game. will the player tow the line and do the bidding of the state and face the horror of their actions as more is asked of you, or will you be a freedom fighter condemned and on the run hiding from those who want to kill you.
what do you think?
Kim
I probably wouldn't play, but it sounds like fun for someone. You should connect with a video came creator and try it!
*game
me
but who would make it. i think a lot of game companies and studios have ties with weapons manufacturers and the armed forces
Kim
I'm not sure. Maybe it could start as an online game.
maybe.
me
or maybe it would need to be a kick starter/ go fund me idea
Kim
I imagine you'd have to have a lot of details and plans for kick starter to be successful.
After you have more details, you could maybe check with a tech startup company. They might be more open to the idea. I'm pretty clueless about this stuff!
me
true. i really like the idea of a game where depending on your choices in game you either become the oppressor or the oppressed and it holds a mirror up to those who take the route of oppressor. the game doesnt have to be in modern day. it could take place in nazi germany or in the future.
Kim
Do you know about Larken Rose's project, The Mirror?
me
yes. it sounds good
Kim
I wonder if you could connect with him after he's done. I bet he'd have some good ideas for you.
...or even before he's done. It sounds like quite an intense and time-consuming endeavor!
Are the only choices really oppressor or oppressed? That is depressing. Haha!
How about sovereign, free human? LOL.
me
yeah. let me ask you this. how does the horror aspect fit into my game idea. for me i was thinking jump scares.
Kim
I'm not sure. I'm not much of a gamer. Sorry! My kids love jump scares, though. 🙂
They are 14 and 12. I'm 46. FYI.
me
ok. well what would be scary to you about being on the run from the state from people who want to kill you?
Kim
Everything.
Ha!
Not knowing who the enemy is.
Or what they look like, I guess I mean.
me
now what would be scary about being one of the people who in hunting the oppressed, who wants to kill them?
Kim
It's never-ending scenarios.
Having to kill your friends or family, for me at least.
me
how about the idea that you could be next?
Kim
Yes, that crossed my mind.
But I also think that's less realistic considering that we have had real-life situations with oppressors and oppressed. Oppressors often stay in their roles. That's where my brain went, at least.
It's like the Walking Dead. Ha!
me
so we're on to something. ok. what about the mystery aspect. how can that be fit in?
Kim
Well, why are the oppressors killing the oppressed? Are the oppressed rising up?
me
thats a good one. how about the motives in the lead-up
Kim
The mystery would depend on which role I'm in--oppressed or oppressor.
me
i like the V for vendeta consept
Kim
I haven't seen it or read it. Sorry! It's on my list!
me
the detective was an agent of the state but more and more his conscious kept eating away at him
for the oppressed the mystery is what is going on? who are these people? what do they want to do to us? what will become of us?
Kim
Well, what if you approached the publisher/director/producer/author and see if a video game or online game would be something they'd consider.
A V is for Vendetta game! 🙂
me
for the oppressor the mystery is who are my masters? what do they want? how far are they willing to go to get it?
Kim
It definitely sounds intriguing.
You should connect with someone who knows about pitching ideas to the right people.
me
maybe. or how about a comic book or graphic novel. one with several different endings?
Kim
I'd like to see someone who isn't oppressed or oppressing, but I guess that's boring. LOL
me
you cant ride the fence. not in the holocaust, not in this game. you have to take a side
i cant see you message. resend
Kim
I didn't send one. I had to step away for a minute.
me
oh. ok
Jordan
I'm going to have to tax this conversation.
For the betterment of society.
Kim
Well, isn't the point of anarchy to avoid being an oppressor and being oppressed?
AMEN! LOL
Jordan
It's the price for participating in a civilized group chat.
me
lol
Kim
I feel much safer now, Jordan. Thank you!
This was getting to be chaos.
Jordan
You're welcome. Points a dangerous thing in your face it's for your freedom.
points more dangerous shit in your face
for your freedom
cuz u free
Kim
I hope you use the revenue to build roads. That's all I know.
Jordan
A little bit of it. The rest I'll use to enrich myself.
Kim
And to give yourself a huge salary, and to buy weapons to protect me from foreign invaders.
Foreign and domestic, I meant. Haha!
me
can anyone tell me what would happen to a SS officer if he objected to the treatment of the jews? i assume he would be killed
Kim
Yes, that would be my assumption.
me
for those who play as the oppressor in my game they are presented with opportunities to do good and reverse course, but it wont be easy. in fact it will be dangerous
Kim
Ah! Good idea!
me
for the oppressor theres always a chance to change. the player does not choose from the start of the game what role he will play. he or she does not say "i want to fucking kill people and rape them and be a nazi". it starts with subtle choices. a choice here. a choice there. until youre on one side or the other
at that point you will wonder "how did i get here" in which case you can get a recap in game and watch the actions or inaction your character was involved in
Kim
Will it be like World of Warcraft with multiple players at once? That would be cool.
I don't know much about those types of games, by the way.
me
i dont know. that would be vary chotic and would draw away from the story which is meant to have a message.
the game is primarily cut scene driven
Kim
Ah. That makes sense.
me
yeah. i want the events to also be very similar to that of the holocaust almost note for note, but i dont necessarily want it to follow nazi germany, because thats too obvious. at the end of the game one of two things will happen. the player will be convicted of war crimes and will be labeled the oppressor. the oppressor will watch his character commit every atrocity that he took part in as life flashes before his eyes right before his execution. alternatively you will be the oppressed. the player may or may not live depending on how they play the game in order to survive. in either case old stock footage of the nazi concentration camps will be shown in a cut scene with a cryptic in chilling warning, that tyranny can happen here and that we can become predator or prey in a savage existence."
for a bit of context to the reader there are 5 steps to tyranny. they are 1. us vs them 2. obey 3. do them harm 4. stand by (apathy) and 5. exterminate. the player will be present in all 5 stages and each stage will take up one fifth of the games story. to learn more about the 5 steps to tyranny click this link. http://fearofthefounders.blogspot.com/2010/07/5-steps-to-tyranny-examination-step-i.html. let me know what you think and lets see if we cant make this idea in to a real video game.