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From the world of electronic games today, there is news of controversy over the Nintendo DS game Imagination is the Only Escape. Apparently, the game is set during World War II and places players in the role of a French Jewish child who uses his imagination to escape the horrors of the Holocaust surrounding him. The New York Times suggests that Nintendo will refuse to distribute the game in the United States because of it’s difficult theme. Wired argues that the game may have educational benefits, while 1UP proposes that The New York Times is overreacting. Gameplanet focuses on conflict between the developer and publisher.
Contrast this to the critical success of indie RPG Grey Ranks wherein players assume the role of teen fighters in the Warsaw Uprising. Respected podcaster Paul Tevis selected Grey Ranks as his top new roleplaying game of 2007. On RPG.net, one review recommends the game for its “deep character focus” and another says, “If you want to experience some deep, heartbreaking stories with your friends, then look no further than Grey Ranks.” The podcast The Voice of the Revolution also reviews the game in episode 12. Grey Ranks is available for purchase at Indie Press Revolution in print or PDF format.
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One big difference is that Grey Ranks, quite explicitly, is not about the Holocaust. Obviously anti-Semitism and the liquidation of the Warsaw ghetto (an event a year in the past as play begins) are bound to enter play, but players have some control over how tightly they want to integrate and address this material. That said, I’ve never had a game in which the fate of Poland’s Jews didn’t play some role. A good tabletop game to contrast with Imagination is the Only Escape might be Matthijs Holter’s We All Had Names:
http://weallhadnames.wordpress.com/
Thank you Jason for the clarification and the recommendation. I was trying to point out that despite all the flash and hype about video games, tabletop games still have a lot to offer. I think that this is particularly true when it comes to difficult social and psychological issues, which a number of roleplaying games are managing to address in a serious fashion while remaining entertaining. Hopefully, the maturity with which the tabletop gaming community is able to deal with such subject matter can help demonstrate to a wider audience that board games, card games, and paper roleplaying games are more than just a quaint reflection of a bygone era. With that goal in mind, I still think that the success of your game, Grey Ranks, offers an interesting contrast to the controversy over Imagination is the Only Escape.