Ian Bogost of political game developer Persuasive Games has been writing about his excitement at a deal struck with the online edition of the New York Times. The site will be regularly running the studio's games in its opinion section, starting with Food Import Folly which looks into the work of the hopelessly overstretched FDA as it attempts to manage food imports into the United States.
"This is news/editorial in videogame form, rather than videogames trying to make news fun," says Bogost. In this sense his games have become a new form of political cartoon, ostensibly entertaining, but carrying underlying comment and insight into major issues. Food Import Folly was developed in just a week - an incredible turnaround, but a necessary one if Persuasive Games are going to effectively comment on news events.
It's an interesting development - I wonder if my employers at this paper have taken note?
