Water Cooler Games - Persuasive Games releases The Arcade Wire: Airport Security

Persuasive Games releases The Arcade Wire: Airport Security
September 19, 2006 - by Ian Bogost

Gonzalo and his team coined the term "newsgame" back in 2003 with their excellent piece September 12. If you are a regular visitor to Water Cooler Games, you've probably noticed an increase in our coverage of newsgammes, including games about Zidane, Mel Gibson, and the Crocodile Hunter. Newsgames have a problem though. On the one hand, most rapidly developed, highly topical newsgames are skin-deep. They serve mostly as curiosities, rather than procedural interpretations of the news. On the other hand, deeper interpretations require more time, perhaps too much time.

A short time ago, my studio Persuasive Games inked a deal with Shockwave.com and Addicting Games to create a new series of newsgames that try to balance both of these issues. The series is called The Arcade Wire, and I'm happy to announce that the first of these games, Airport Security, is now out. It's a critique of the absurdist changing practices in airport security. Try to keep up with knee-jerk policy changes and enjoy perverse prohibitions like toothpaste, pants, and pressurized cheese.

Go play the game, and rate it too.

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Comment from Julian on September 20, 2006

Absolutely brilliant! I just got back from a trip through the UK and Ireland, and the game is an accurate description of the level of confusion in air travel that results from constantly changing security rules. I haven't played very long, but I assume the bonus stage is being singled out for questioning, a surreal experience that culminates in the question, "You're an academic? What is your field of expertise?" There's really no answer to that one that is not bound to make you look suspicious.

Comment from Toru on September 20, 2006

Hi Ian,

It's another great game from your studio!
I think the design (and by looking at your previous works) sort of indicates how you addressed the issue on timing and quality, which is I think a great way. I have introduced this game to the Japanese Serous Games audience. Cheers!!

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