Gameplay Journal Entry #7

The game I chose this week that I think expresses political/social values is Detroit: Become Human. This game is an adventure game where decisions affect the outcome. The value this game focuses on is identity and human rights. The players play as androids that were designed to complete every task for humans. There are androids that can cook, babysit, run errands, etc. They have to do everything their owner/human says. As an android, you are fighting for humans and androids to be equal. I would say one major concern every game designer worries about when putting a political value in a game is the audience’s reaction. Jonathan Belman and Mary Flanagan in, “Exploring the Creative Potential of Values Conscious Design: Students’ Experiences with the Values at Play Curriculum,” explain, “Broadly speaking, we’re interested in how designers can use games to affirm, explore, and question particular cultural, political, and moral values. For example, imagine a game that explores what the value of patriotism means in the context of recent controversy over immigration” (Belman and Flanagan 1). If a game designer took the chance to leave a message in their story like human rights, immigration, etc; there could be an opportunity to educate players and still have an enjoyable game.

I would say that Detroit: Become Human successfully communicates their ideas. Since you are playing as a character who is fighting for their rights, you feel the frustration when humans start to fear you or fight back. There is a moment where your in a peaceful protest with a group of other androids. Even though everyone is being peaceful and police show up armed and are forcing you to stop your protest. Although this game came out in 2018, it still relates to recent events and events that even occurred in the 1900s. I enjoy decision based games and it was interesting seeing the different ways you can lead the protests and the message you want to send out.

Let’s Play of Detroit: Become Human by TetraNinja on Youtube

Sources:

Belman, Jonathan, and Mary Flanagan. “Exploring the Creative Potential of Values Conscious Game Design: Students’ Experiences with the VAP Curriculum.” Eludamos. Journal for Computer Game Culture, www.eludamos.org/index.php/eludamos/article/view/vol4no1-5/156.

TetraNinja. “DETROIT BECOME HUMAN Walkthrough Gameplay Part 1 — FIRST TWO HOURS!!! (PS4 Pro 4K Let’s Play).” YouTube, commentary by TetraNinja, 24 May. 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJttIB2etwA.