Paul Dacre Simulator: The Republia Times

Orwellian publishing simulator OR accurate reflection of today's hyper-manipulative media? Free, browser based indie experiment The Republia Times has you playing the editor of a state-controlled newspaper, tasked with convincing a skeptical public that they should love their oppressive, militaristic, anti-academic government while at the same time pursuing ever-greater audiences. Pick which stories to run and where to run them wisely - otherwise the government will have your family killed. Jim used to argue that we should run RPS that way in order to achieve maximum efficiency and profitability, but he sensibly elected to keep his mouth shut about it once the rest of us threw his son down a well.

Much like today's more exploitative media outlets, the readership is lured in with banal celebrity wedding news and shouty sports results, then fed propaganda for the paper's party of choice. A loyal, unquestioning, passive army of reality TV addicted-xenophobes is the goal. I felt bad pursuing such a sick situation, but my family, my family... At least that's my excuse.

Simple and not especially challenging (as only doing exactly what you're ordered to generally tends to be), it's compulsive and sharp regardless. It also has a fantastic sting in the tail, which even if you do guess in advance can't fail to elicit a wry, sad smile. Good work, Lucas Pope.

Via - what else? - FreeIndieGam.es.