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[- PLAYING DISSENT
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By PipShea, Section whatever...
Posted on Sun May 4th, 2003 at 05:27:22 AM EURODISCORDIA TIME
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The computer game `Escape from Woomera', has caused a wee feeding frenzy over the past week, as Australia's immigration minister, Philip Ruddock, discovered the game's development funding has come from his own government's purse. The Australia Council for the Arts has thrown $25,000 at the development of a 3D adventure game, that invites gamers to assume the character of, and `live' through the experiences of a modern day refugee.
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Australia has a policy of mandatory detention for all refugees and asylum seekers who arrive by boat on its shores. The government believes the proposed game makes a mockery of Australia's mandatory detention policy. The game's developers see it as a way of unlocking the truth about what goes on behind the razor-wire - an interactive, immersive experience of how life might be within one of the most secretive and controversial places on the Australian political and geographical landscape.
Ruddock emerged with guns blazing this week saying the game reflected badly on the Australia Council for promoting unlawful activity. An intriguing accusation when one considers the availability and popularity of uber-realistic shoot 'em ups like 'Unreal Tournament' and the neo-colonialist-conquer-the-world-strategy game 'Risk'.
Maybe his problem is with the medium. Maybe Ruddock doesn't see videogames as `ART', and that's why he decided to get up the Australia Council - or maybe he just can't cope with the idea of freedom of speech.
In any case, the controversy surrounding `Escape from Woomera' has shown that the videogame is ripe for an injection of interesting and progressive ideas that can effect social change. |
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