Newsgaming

Rhizome

Newsworthy Games

Forget fantasy roleplaying and action-packed adventure - here's a new game genre based on real-life event:: Newsgaming.com designs video games that are also tools for better understanding the world. Created by Gonzalo Frasca and a team of independent games developers, Newsgaming currently offers two online games and plans to publish several each year in response to world events. 'September 12th' highlights civilian casualties in the so-called war on terror. Declaring 'This is not a game. You can't win and you can't lose', it demonstrates the stupidity of the logic of an eye for an eye with deliberate simplicity. Shooting at terrorists destroys surrounding housing, and as the people cry, the numbers of terrorists increase. The message? Violence breeds violence. 'Madrid', on the other hand, is a form of digital mediatation: the player is invited to brighten candles in memory of victims of terrorist attacks all over the world. All terrorists and politicians should play th! ese games. - Helen Varley Jamieson.

Newsgaming