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How the World's Riots Inspired a Video Game

By Paul Walker

Are real-world riots the right subject matter for a video game? Is it even possible to address such subject matter in a game with the gravity it deserves?

Six months ago, ex-Valve editor and cinematographer Leonard Menchiari took part in his first protest in northern Italy's Susa Valley. The protest was part of a decade-long campaign aimed at preventing the construction of a high-speed railway line through what many consider to be an area of natural beauty.

"I was occupying the A32 Chianocco highway, near Turin, with several hundred people", says Menchiari. "After a few days of occupying the highway, blocking the path of the military that is currently protecting this huge project, we realized that the police were coming. A helicopter was above us the whole time, rocks were banging on the sides of the road, and hundreds of policemen marched towards us and violently separated us into different sections".

"After pushing us all together, we were facing the police the whole time; I was in the first line pressed against a policeman's shield. We started talking to them. We saw in the policemen's eyes that they weren't happy to be there. I was wondering what would happen once the leader would order them to charge against a whole crowd of peaceful people with their hands up”. Menchairi soon got his answer as the front line was moved to the back and replaced by a fresh wave of police, free of the rapport some protesters had managed to build with their would-be adversaries.

"I realized that also this was perfectly calculated," Menchiari says. "Immediately after they gave the order to beat us up as hard as they could, I couldn't breathe. Then I was thrown to the side and rolled down the cliff being pushed by the water jets that the police truck had. Shortly after, I found myself running with a bunch of people in complete darkness in the middle of an open field, away from the scene, while police were shooting CS smoke grenades directly at us, trying to hit us rather than just intoxicate us. Some grenades were shot in people's homes, others ended up seriously injuring people”.

"Police were shooting CS smoke grenades directly at us, trying to hit us rather than just intoxicate us."

"The battle didn't stop for a while," Menchiari continues. "The police kept following us and beating up whoever was in their way. They chased everyone in the town involving even people who had absolutely nothing to do with [the protest]. We tried to stay calm as much as we could so that nobody would get killed if they tripped and fell on the ground under people's feet, but the police were fast, and those left behind would get heavily beat up and arrested. It was a pretty tough situation.”

Tough is certainly one way to describe the situation. Scary might be another. But as an experience, it's one that Menchiari keeps to heart, and one that he believes should be shared. And so, inspired by his experience, the commitment of the protesters around him, and images of social unrest across the globe, Menchiari set out to create a video game that would educate the world.

The result is RIOT, an RTS game that, in the words of game designer Mattia Traverso and programmer Ugur Ister, will try to allow the player to experience “what being in such events means and how it feels".

Of course, much of the social unrest that has inspired RIOT is a result of the economic turmoil sweeping the globe--not an ideal climate for the small Europe-based team to get funding for a video game. But, as is so often the case these days, crowd funding provided the answer. At the time of writing, the IndieGoGo campaign for RIOT stands at roughly double the original $15,000 target.

The crowd-sourced cash will not only be used to fund development and testing of the game, but will also allow the developers to do something far more interesting: to document and actively take part in social unrest in Italy, Egypt, Greece and other places around the world.

213 comments
Jake518
Jake518 like.author.displayName 1 Like

There is a difference between peacefully protesting and rioting. Peacefully protesting should be encouraged but rioting is not acceptable. It's not fair to others by damaging property or worse, putting the lives of those not involved in danger. Rioting doesn't even need a message. Remember the Vancouver riots? Just a bunch of fans being sore losers when their team lost.

Voidkom
Voidkom

@Jake518  You haven't been in many protests, haven't you? Do you know what happens to peaceful protests? They get dispersed and ignored.

Name one movement that reached its goals. because of a peaceful protest rather than the use of violent or nonviolent attacks/sabotage/boycots or the threat thereof. I'll spare you the effort: Not a single movement has accomplished its goals by peaceful protesting.

made_u_look
made_u_look

@Voidkom Martin Luther King ring a bell? Get educated then maybe you won't be a moron and defend riots. Like the L.A. riots which served no purpose except property damage and loss of human life.

made_u_look
made_u_look

@Voidkom @made_u_look And to add to your thought process, some protests aren't worth crap. Because society has to deem whether its worth the change. For example PETA they protest just about everything most of it is ludicrous. Now racial equality of social injustice was done with peaceful means a MAJORITY of time were there riots yea. But what got through were the peaceful debates and speeches. For woman s rights and African American rights. There wasn't looting or rioting for woman's rights. 

made_u_look
made_u_look

@Voidkom @made_u_look Learning about someones struggles and achievements through peaceful protest, yes it takes someone with the mental capacity to see faults in a democratic government. Rioting in a violent nature with radical intent creates more animosity than a peaceful conclusion. You asked for one movement, I gave you one. Now your saying naming one isn't a enough? How about Gandhi, Tank man? You act like a violent child and start destroying someones place of work or home, guess what your not helping your cause your just pissing off sympathizers. But I guess radicals like yourself careless that's why you never get anywhere. 

Voidkom
Voidkom

@made_u_look @Voidkom I have to get educated? You think that the African-American Civil Rights Movement was succesful because of Martin Luther king? What an extremely simplistic view you have...

I'm sure there was also no riots back then, right? You think there was no sabotage or boycots back then? Here's a hint: Protests are worth shit.

unclepaulie83
unclepaulie83 like.author.displayName 1 Like

Riots ???? would be more interesting if they were not full of lazy people , they are just "strikes" on wheels 

NTM23
NTM23

I remember when I was little, I went to an auditorium for a school field trip, I don't remember what it was called, but it was on the same street and the day before the 1999 WTO protests here in Seattle.

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mescovic
mescovic

@Venatorcruiser  protesters you mean radical Wahhabi fundamentalist used a proxy weapon to overtake a secular government that protects the rights of women, Christians and jews.

kratospete
kratospete

Paul Walker..the movie actor? lol

DETfaninATL
DETfaninATL like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

"How the World's Riots Inspired a Video Game"  OR : "How Global Degenerates and Their Misbehavior Inspired People To Capitalize On It For Dollars and Fun"

hussin005
hussin005 like.author.displayName 1 Like

FUCK YOU WHO EVER MAKING THIS GAME ... this is not something you can play bec i fucking lived it and ive lost friends 

rgdfglfhgkh
rgdfglfhgkh like.author.displayName 1 Like

@hussin005 i agree with u but this is not the first time they made a game about something like it besides its better to use ur energy to kill some1 in a game rather than in real life b/c u hate em 

anyway sorry for ur lose

0rr3n1
0rr3n1 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 5 Like

@hussin005 and war games situated in places where hundreds of people have died is any better? I am sorry for your loss, but i feel talking about it like that is a bit too personal and is not representing the opinion of the whole.

splinter10
splinter10 like.author.displayName 1 Like

Interesting. Though I don't really care to much for all the talk of informing me about what the riots mean, and the issues going on in the world. I already know must of it, and I have other mediums to educate myself on the subject. I'd rather just here more about the gameplay, as it looks interesting.

Skrillbak
Skrillbak

The "emotional" premise of the game seems too difficult to capture. Despite our political views & differences, the gamer isn't connected to either side of the conflict because this is a simulator. Making a strategy game is one thing but trying to sell it based on the experiences of one man just seems to not translate for me. If the game play is fun then that's one thing but I can't fathom someone playing this game & being emotionally touched unless you've been on either side of a riot like this.

Voidkom
Voidkom

@Skrillbak Agreed, it doesn't put you in the shoes of the protester whose world is gone to shit and gets increasingly angry or gets beaten and even tortured by police. Nor does it put you in the shoes of the police officer who has been completely desensitized to violence and has given up all morals just to do a job.

never-named
never-named like.author.displayName 1 Like

Something tells me we have another 'Hotline Miami' in our hands here!

Shatilov
Shatilov like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

I WANT THIS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HipHopBeats
HipHopBeats

Killuminati! Lol! Seriously, America was built on propaganda and deception. '"what being in such events means and how it feels?' How did it feel to be a student in Virginia Tech? How did it feel to be considered 3/4's of a man during the Civil Rights movement? More importantly, how does it feel to pre-order a game with a season pass for future DLC?

Thunderstarter
Thunderstarter

Honestly, the game just sounds like it could be fun to play. I don't really care about the message. The concept is cool. I wonder how the mob would win? 

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Voidkom
Voidkom

@Lord_OfThe_SithBeing anti-capitalist means I can't wear clothes, right? Your feeble understanding of economic theories and how the world works is amusing at best.

KadeStorm
KadeStorm like.author.displayName 1 Like

@Lord_OfThe_Sith Next time you're ripping off talking points from your favourite, selectively biased Libertarian blog, please bother to reference accordingly. There's definitely a lot of hypocrisy in the idea of presenting the minions that protect citizens as 'baddies'. On the other hand, this whole, "but, but. . . they're pampered brats," nonsense is just as hypocritical and there's nothing wrong with the idea of taking the fallouts of crony behaviour to task. How about presenting PMCs of the kind that have no obligation to social justice but only to protect the already well-protected? Black and white/either-or logical fallacy remains black and white.

Lord_OfThe_Sith
Lord_OfThe_Sith

@KadeStorm @Lord_OfThe_Sith First off you are an idiot.  I am not a Lib of any kind and I do not read Lib websites/blogs.  Before you accuse someone of doing something perhaps you should get to know them a little first.  Were you at "Occupy" anything.  I saw Occupy NY first hand as I was there on business.  I saw first hand what I described.  I took minor intellectual license as I think the little shit said BMW not Porsche.  Are there poor people in this country? Of course.  Are there people who are not fully participating in society?  Yes.  Are there people who feel minimized by our system?  Absolutely!  Where these the majority of occutards?  NOT even close.  P.S. Return to your parents basement from which you came and trouble us no more. 

Lord_OfThe_Sith
Lord_OfThe_Sith

@karasu251 @Lord_OfThe_Sith @KadeStorm I love how people like you try to put words in other peoples mouths to sway opinion and prove your nonexistent argument.  Number one not all of the "Occupy" protests were peaceful and most of them were racked with internal violence.  More than 400 people were arrested during Occupy Oakland after they attacked police throwing bricks and setting fires.  Occupy Seattle (aka Occupy the Port) saw its share of violence as well.  While Occupy NY saw it's share of violence toward police as well as internally which included at least one rape.  Please, try reading something and do a little research about what you are talking about before you open your mouth.  It stands, you are an idiot maybe it is from ingesting the glue you were speaking about.  

karasu251
karasu251

@Lord_OfThe_Sith@KadeStorm ......

You do realize the Occupy Whatever movement that you're babbling about is a 'peaceful protest', right? The complete opposite of what this game is conveying? The kind of protest that this game isn't even covering at ANY length?

I can't believe you just pinned a guy as 'an idiot' for talking back to your ridiculous points, too. Let me guess; you saw someone in line at the supermarket paying with food stamps with manicured nails, talking on their iPhone? Me too, bro! Man, that bitch gets around...

And it seems like you feel that people shouldn't protest at all because they are somehow entitled brats -- not because, you know, they're pissed and are rallying for change. I mean you can sit on your ass and judge them, if you'd like. Unless of course it's something you give a damn about, then you'd be all up in arms.

If you want a deadly protest, take your short-sightedness outside the US. Otherwise, ingest a bottle of glue and do us all a favor.

reter121
reter121 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 6 Like

this is shit and Jewish propaganda to control the sheep aka Americans 

Dan11223344
Dan11223344 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 7 Like

@reter121 How does a riot in Italy translate to "Jewish propaganda". You sir, are a moron.

jlwood830
jlwood830

Liberal my ass.  Stupid game.  Stupid story.

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Warlord_Irochi
Warlord_Irochi like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

@Suikogaiden And what you do when you get constantly ignored if you got the peaceful way, while people loose their homes and die from starvation?

You obviously talk without having any idea, or you would not dare to throw such a statement...

Dan11223344
Dan11223344 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

@Suikogaiden Not that i agree with either side here, but where does it say they assaulted an officer? And even if the protesters are breaking the law they where still met with amuch higher level of violence than was needed, especially if the part about attacking people not involved in the protest is true. Police need to know restraint since its their duty to uphold the law, which means setting an example too.

obsequies
obsequies like.author.displayName 1 Like

@Suikogaiden didn't you just get defeated down there? \/ ohhhh...I get it, you didn't like that you were wrong so you tried to start all over again, very smart. You could call yourself one of those "smart" people

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Dan11223344
Dan11223344 like.author.displayName 1 Like

@Suikogaiden And also you say liberals can't win votes. Explain Obama. But i digress you 'righties' did vote for Bush which was hillarious - i mean the rest of the world got to see what happens when a nut job with the mind of a dim child ran one of the biggest super powers on the face of the planet. Baby with a rocket launcher anyone?

obsequies
obsequies like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

@Suikogaiden didn't you just reply? lol you are a complete moron

Pukshd
Pukshd like.author.displayName 1 Like

@Suikogaiden agree, peaceful protest, and then they steal, kill, rape...

feestay
feestay like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

@Suikogaiden Then the people have the right to defend themselves with sticks, stones, and molotov cocktails. Its civil disobedience, therefore it's ilegal anyways. 

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obsequies
obsequies like.author.displayName 1 Like

@Suikogaiden this guy is amazing, he's like some sort of internet super hero

gufberg
gufberg like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

@Suikogaiden When you grow a little older i hope you'll look back at interactions like this and be  embarrased over how teenage-you used to 'debate'. 

gufberg
gufberg like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 4 Like

@obsequies @feestay @Suikogaiden I'll just point out that last time i saw Suikogaiden's posts he was calling all muslims terrorists and reffering to a TV hostess as "That MILF" ... 

Yea guys. This is the level of intelligence you're dealing with.  

feestay
feestay like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 4 Like

@Suikogaiden You are manipulating concepts and facts into your own favor and your political thinking. Im done, think whatever you want.

obsequies
obsequies like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

@Suikogaiden so why are you lumping everything into marxist, liberal, cocktails? it just makes you look like you have personal issues . You do realize there were riots and protests that have nothing to do with what your relating them to and it just makes you look ridiculously psychotic and narrow minded and/or inexperienced with reality. I guess according to the way your comments are going I'm supposed to tell you to sit on a crucifix and die because nobody cares about you? okkkayy

obsequies
obsequies like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

@Suikogaiden look at this guy looking up stuff on Wikipedia and throwing it around in ways that don't even make sense lol he's like a troll that didn't grow up 

feestay
feestay like.author.displayName 1 Like

@Suikogaiden Wrong again. Im not a Marxist either (¿why my political thoughts are relevant in this discussion?). Im not trying to convince you or anything. Like i said before, civil disobedience implies illegal behavior, and social-self defense implies violence. It's not political propaganda. And i dont burn people or attack them freely, that's facism. We are talking about the context of rioting, and nothing else.

feestay
feestay like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 4 Like

@Suikogaiden Don't call me liberal. Im not a capitalist and i despise right wing parties ( you dont have any real "leftists" or anything more radical in the US). 

For me, the context of social self -defense implies violence in both sides. The reasons behind that violence is the one thing that matters. It's not a moral question, it's political.

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