Peacemaker

By: Derek Yu

On: May 2nd, 2007

Peacemaker

Peacemaker is a game that simulates the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

When I hear about a game made around a real-life sociopolitical issue or event, I always alternately get this feeling of excitement and dread. Excitement because I think of the potential and dread because I think about the general lack of sensitivity in the game industry at large. There’s also the problem that a commercial game company would never make a serious game about politics, but then most indie game companies lack the experience and resources to make one that’s good.

Case in point: SCRPG, which we can all agree was just too ugly and hastily made to bring anything but flames down on the game industry. Controversy is great, but did we learn anything from that game? I didn’t.

Thankfully, Peacemaker, which was created by a Carnegie Mellon student and is now being sold at its website for $19.95, seems to have been crafted thoughtfully and objectively, with regard for both the conflict as well as the game’s design and presentation. I’m not very far into the demo, so it’s hard for me to gauge how well it works as a strategy game, but the theme and presentation makes the game incredibly compelling. In terms of educating people about the conflict and expanding the genre of sociopolitical games, Peacekeeper is a monumental success, I believe.

Here’s a nice Gamasutra article that goes into more detail about the gameplay of Peacemaker.

  • penumbro

    I’ve played through both campaigns now, and while it is decent, it’s nowhere near as good as Hidden Agenda (which is really the only other game of this kind that I can remember).

  • http://www.distractionware.com Echo

    I was really impressed by this game, so I’ve just bought a copy. Thanks for the recommendation!

  • Derek

    Yay! You’re welcome, Echo. :)