If you're into games, the last place you might look is the New Yorker, however, Papers, Please, won the Best Game of 2013 for the prestigious East Coast magazine. And they've won quite a bit more including indie game award by Forbes and another best overall game by Wired.
Why all the fuss? Papers, Please offers an interesting dystopian insight into what it's like for an immigration officer in an imaginary country that the game exists within. How do you control the flow of people while at the same time considering the broader social, political and economic conditions? The place is called Arstotzka and those who don't have the right papers will either have to go home -- if that exists -- or will get arrested.
Contact Information
Papers, Please website
Lucas Pope website
Lucas Pope on Twitter
What's Driving This Trend
- Dystopian Games
- Developing immersive games that provide a dystopian insight can captivate gamers and win prestigious awards.
- Empathy-based Gaming
- Creating games that challenge players to consider broader social, political, and economic conditions can create a unique and engaging gaming experience.
- Indie Game Recognition
- Indie games like Papers, Please have the potential to win awards and gain recognition from major publications, further solidifying their position in the gaming industry.
Who This Affects Most
- Video Game Development
- The video game development industry can explore the creation of dystopian games that offer immersive and thought-provoking experiences.
- Gaming Journalism
- Gaming journalism can provide coverage and recognition for indie games, helping to showcase their unique perspectives and gameplay mechanics to a wider audience.
- Indie Game Publishing
- Indie game publishing companies have the opportunity to support and promote games that offer innovative and unconventional gameplay, potentially winning awards and gaining popularity.
