,9SURRECTION IS ,NOT A ,GAME ,PEOPLE 3 ,AU?OR 3 ,CRIME?,9C4 ,TEXT 3 ,:AT IS AN AN>*I/ GAME8 ,IS IT A GAME ?AT PROMOTES AN>*I/ VALUES8 ,A GAME ?AT DEPICTS AN>*I/ ACTIVITIES8 ,A GAME ?AT SUBV]TS & DE/ABILIZES P[] /RUCTURES8 ,:AT CAN GAM+ !ORY TEA* AN>*I/S--& :AT CAN AN>*I/S TEA* ?R\< GAMES8 ,TO EXPLORE !SE & O!R QUE/IONS1 WE CONDUCT$ ! FOLL[+ 9T]VIEW ) ,T,L1 GAME DESIGN] & >TI/ ( ,BLOC BY ,BLOC3 ,! ,9SURRECTION ,GAME4 ,:Y DO Y\ ?9K CREATIVE ACTIVITY IS IMPORTANT = AN>*I/S8 ,CREATIVE RESI/ANCE IS ONE ( ! ESS5TIAL ELEM5TS ( A ?RIV+ AN>*I/ MOVEM5T4 ,PLAY & IMAG9ATION ALL[ = ! K9D ( EXP]IM5TATION ?AT CAN REVEAL CRACKS 9 ! SY/EMS ( CONTROL4 ,AN>*I/S NE$ TO BE ABLE TO IMAG9E O!R WORLDS & O!R =MS ( LIFE 9 ORD] TO POSITION !IR ACTIVITIES 9 OPPOSITION TO ?IS ONE4 ,:5 CREATIVITY IS ALL[$ TO FL\RI% 9 AN>*I/ SPACES1 IT'S EASI] TO NEUTRALIZE /IFL+ & TOXIC MODES ( SOCIAL ORGANIZATION4 ,IS ,BLOC BY ,BLOC JU/ A =M ( 5T]TA9M5T8 ,OR >E !RE O!R DIM5SIONS TO ! PROJECT & :AT Y\ HOPE IT WILL ACCOMPLI% 9 ! WORLD8 ,BLOC BY ,BLOC IS A TABLETOP GAME ?AT SIMULATES ! URBAN REBELLIONS ?AT WE HAVE SE5 9 CITIES >\ND ! WORLD OV] ! PA/ #a OR #ae YE>S4 ,! GOAL ( ?IS PROJECT IS TO PRODUCE A FUN & $UCATIONAL GAM+ EXP]I5CE4 ,I DON'T WANT TO PRET5D ?IS IS ANY?+ MORE ?AN ?AT4 ,?AT'S ONE ( ! REASONS ! GRAPHICS 9 ,BLOC BY ,BLOC >E PLAYFUL1 REM9ISC5T ( COLORFUL C>TOONS4 ,IT'S IMPORTANT ?AT WE DON'T TAKE ! PROJECT TOO S]I\SLY OR OV]/ATE ITS POLITICAL IMPACT4 ,?AT W\LD BE MISLEAD+ & DISRESPECTFUL TO EV]YONE :O HAS BE5 \T !RE 9 ! /REETS 9 REAL /RUGGLES ?AT HAVE REAL CONSEQU5CES4 ,BUT GAMES CAN BE P[]FUL TOOLS = EXPLOR+ COMPLEX IDEAS4 ,?AT'S ONE ( ! MA9 REASONS ,I CONT9UE TO WORK 9 ?IS M$IUM4 ,:5 WE PLAY GAMES1 WE CREATE /ORIES \T ( ! 9T]ACTION BETWE5 PLAY]S1 GAME ME*ANICS1 & COMPON5TS4 ,! BE/ GAMES CRAFT RI* & EM]G5T /ORIES ?AT *ANGE EA* TIME WE PLAY !M4 ,!SE /ORIES MIRROR >*ETYPICAL N>RATIVES ?AT WE F9D ?R\<\T SOCIETY4 ,?IS IS :Y GAMES CAN FEEL SO MEAN+FUL3 !Y CREATE A TEMPOR>Y SPACE 9 :I* WE CAN SAFELY EXPLORE ! /ORIES ?AT DEF9E \R LIVES4 ,?IS SPACE IS REF]R$ TO AS 0! MAGIC CIRCLE40 ,BLOC BY ,BLOC CREATES A MAGIC CIRCLE 9 :I* PLAY]S CAN EXPLORE /ORIES ( CONTEMPOR>Y REVOLT & RESI/ANCE4 ,IT'S A RESPONSE & A *ALL5GE TO ! UBIQUIT\S N>RATIVES ( COLONIZATION1 9DU/RIALIZATION1 /ATECRAFT1 AU?ORIT>IAN H]O-WOR%IP1 & *AUV9I/ VIOL5CE ?AT DOM9ATE MU* ( TABLETOP GAM+--& DIGITAL GAM+ EV5 MORE SO4 ,9 ?IS WAY1 IT CAN BE UND]/OOD AS AN AN>*I/ 9T]V5TION 9 ! WORLD ( GAM+4 ,DOES ,BLOC BY ,BLOC HAVE ANTEC$5TS8 ,:AT W]E Y\R PO9TS ( REF]5CE :5 Y\ W]E DESIGN+ IT8 ,A GR\P ( US FIR/ />T$ BRA9/ORM+ IDEAS = AN 9SURRECTION BO>D GAME 9 ! SUMM] ( #b#a4 ,NONE ( US W]E EXP]I5C$ GAM]S2 WE HAD V]Y LITTLE TO DRAW ON 9 T]MS ( ANTEC$5TS4 ,\R PO9TS ( REF]5CE W]E ! /RUGGLES & 9SURRECTIONS WE HAD BE5 FOLL[+ V]Y CLOSELY4 ,! UPRIS+ 9ITIAT$ BY A TEA*]S /RIKE 9 ,OAXACA1 ,MEXICO DUR+ ! SECOND HALF ( #bf HAD A MAJOR IMPACT ON !SE E>LY CONV]SATIONS ?AT W\LD EV5TUALLY %APE ! CONT\RS ( :AT WE N[ CALL ,BLOC BY ,BLOC4 ,! Y\? REVOLT ?AT SPREAD ACROSS ALL ( ,GREECE FOLL[+ ! POLICE MURD] ( ! Y\NG AN>*I/ ,ALEXIS ,GRIGOROPOL\S 9 ! ,EX>*EIA NEI ,GRANT 9 ,JANU>Y #bi GAVE US FIR/H& EXP]I5CE ) SOME ( ! WAYS !SE MOM5TS CAN UNFOLD4 ,BAS$ ON !SE REC5T HI/ORICAL EV5TS1 WE /IT*$ TOGE!R ! G5]AL FRAMEWORK = ! GAME4 ,WE KNEW ?AT ALL ! PLAY]S W\LD NE$ TO BE FACTIONS ( ! 9SURRECTION & ?AT ! GAME W\LD SOMEH[ PLAY ! ROLE ( ! /ATE4 ,WE ALSO DECID$ ?AT ! GAME W\LD BE A RACE AGA9/ TIME UNTIL ! MILIT>Y OR SOME K9D ( F$]AL =CE 9T]V5$ TO REE/ABLI% ORD]4 ,& F9ALLY1 WE CAME UP ) A LI/ ( ACTIONS ?AT PLAY]S %\LD BE ABLE TO TAKE3 B>RICAD+1 LOOT+1 OCCUPY+1 & CLA%+ ) POLICE4 ,?IS LAID ! F\NDATION = ! GAME2 ALL ( !SE IDEAS >E C5TRAL TO ,BLOC BY ,BLOC #h YE>S LAT]4 ,PROBABLY DUE TO \R LIMIT$ KN[L$GE ( GAME ME*ANICS & !ORIES ( GAM+1 WE DIDN'T GET V]Y F> 9 ! ACTUAL GAME DEVELOPM5T PROCESS BACK 9 #b#a4 0,! ,9SURRECTION ,GAME10 AS WE CALL$ IT AT ! TIME1 SAT ON ! %ELF = YE>S4 ,IT WASN'T UNTIL AFT] ANO!R R\ND ( EV5 L>G] UPRIS+S >\ND ! WORLD BETWE5 #baa & #bad 9 PLACES LIKE ,CAIRO1 ,I/ANBUL1 & ,F]GUSON ?AT ,I FELT MOTIVAT$ TO CIRCLE BACK TO ! PROJECT4 ,I /UDI$ SOME CONTEMPOR>Y TABLETOP GAMES LIKE ,SETTL]S ( ,CATAN1 ,P&EMIC1 ,=BIDD5 ,DES]T1 & ,DEAD ( ,W9T]1 & ,I READ UP ON !ORIES & APPROA*ES TO GAME DESIGN4 ,9 E>LY #b#a#e1 WE BEGAN PLAYTE/+ ! FIR/ WORK+ PROTOTYPES ( ,BLOC BY ,BLOC4 ,AT FIR/1 ! GAME WAS UNPLAYABLE4 ,BUT ! IT]ATIVE PROCESS WAS 9 MOTION4 ,S9CE !N1 ,I HAVE LE>N$ MORE AB\T ! HI/ORY ( SUBV]SIVE & ANTI-AU?ORIT>IAN TABLETOP GAMES \T !RE 9 ! WORLD4 ,SUFFRAGETTO IS A GAME FROM #aii ?AT SIMULATES WOM5'S SUFFRAGE PROTE/]S CLA%+ ) POLICE4 ,:AT WE N[ KN[ AS ! GAME ,MONOPOLY WAS ORIG9ALLY A GAME CALL$ ,! ,L&LORD'S ,GAME ?AT CRITIQU$ REAL E/ATE SPECULATION & F9ANCE CAPITALISM4 ,CLASS ,/RUGGLE1 ,*ICAGO ,*ICAGO1 & ,MAI #fh ,LE JEU >E A FEW O!R TITLES FROM ! #a#i#gS & '#hS ?AT ATTEMPT$ TO SIMULATE POPUL> UPRIS+S4 ,A FEW YE>S AGO1 SOME ,ITALIAN COMRADES CREAT$ A GAME CALL$ ,RIOT ?AT FEATURES AN>*I/S1 AUTONOMI/S1 POLICE1 & NATIONALI/S FIT WE W\LD NOT BE 9CLUD+ 9 ! FRAMEWORK = ,BLOC BY ,BLOC4 ,:AT >E ! ADVANTAGES ( ! TABLETOP GAME =MAT = TELL+ !SE /ORIES1 AS OPPOS$ TO1 SAY1 A NOVEL1 A FILM1 A VIDEO GAME1 AN ORAL HI/ORY8 ,CREAT+ ,BLOC BY ,BLOC ALL[$ US TO EXPLORE SOCIAL UPHEAVAL ?R\< ! L5S ( SY/EMS ?9K+4 ,A GAME IS A GREAT WAY TO SIMULATE ! CYB]NETIC =MS ( CONTROL EX]CIS$ BY 9/ITUTIONALIZ$ P[]4 ,& IT ALL[S PLAY]S TO EXP]IM5T ) EM]G5T =MS ( COOP]ATIVE /RATEGY TO LIB]ATE !MSELVES FROM !SE OPPRESSIVE SY/EMS4 ,!RE REALLY ISN'T ANO!R M$IUM \T !RE ?AT 5ABLES ?IS SORT ( EM]G5T SY/EMS APPROA* TO TELL+ !SE /ORIES4 ,ANO!R IMPORTANT WAY ?AT TABLETOP GAMES >E GREAT = TELL+ !SE /ORIES IS ?AT !Y >E 9H]5TLY SOCIAL4 ,!RE'S SOME?+ P[]FUL AB\T EXPLOR+ ! DYNAMICS ?AT %APE SOCIAL 9SURRECTIONS ?R\< DISCUSSION1 PLAY COORD9ATION1 & CONFLICT ) O!RS FACE TO FACE >\ND A TABLE4 ,H[EV]1 ?IS =MAT ALSO COMES ) DRAWBACKS4 ,A GAME IS ITSELF A SORT ( CYB]NETIC SY/EM MADE UP ( V>I\S POSITIVE & NEGATIVE FE$BACK LOOPS4 ,! NECESSITY ( CREAT+ A /ABLE GAM+ SY/EM ?AT FUNCTIONS AS A FUN GAME MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO FULLY SIMULATE REAL WORLD EV5TS1 :I* >E DEF9$ BY !IR *AOTIC & EV]-*ANG+ NATURE4 ,TELL US AB\T SOME ( ! SPECIFIC COMPON5TS & DYNAMICS ( ! GAME1 & H[ Y\ CRAFT$ !M TO CONVEY /RATEGIC LESSONS AB\T REAL LIFE4 ,ONE ( ! MO/ IMPORTANT *ANGES 9 ! SECOND $ITION ( ! GAME IS AN IMPROV$ SEMI-COOP]ATIVE MODE4 ,9 ,BLOC BY ,BLOC1 EA* PLAY] HAS A SECRET AG5DA C>D4 ,! MAJORITY ( !SE C>DS >E SOCIAL AG5DAS4 ,PLAY]S ) SOCIAL AG5DAS >E 9 SOLID>ITY ) EA* O!R & MU/ WORK TOGE!R TO DEFEAT ! /ATE & W9 ! GAME COOP]ATIVELY4 ,H[EV]1 !RE >E ALSO VANGU>DI/ & NIHILI/ AG5DA C>DS4 ,PLAY]S ) !SE C>DS HAVE TO SECRETLY UND]M9E ! SOCIAL 9SURRECTION2 !Y >E PLAY+ TO W9 ! GAME ALONE4 ,IT'S POSSIBLE TO REMOVE ! VANGU>DI/ & NIHILI/ C>DS & PLAY ! GAME 9 FULLY COOP]ATIVE MODE4 ,?IS IS PROBABLY ! BE/ WAY TO PLAY Y\R FIR/ GAME2 IT'S H[ MO/ PEOPLE *OSE TO PLAY ! FIR/ $ITION4 ,BUT ?AT'S NOT ! EXP]I5CE WE ORIG9ALLY SET \T TO CREATE ) ,BLOC BY ,BLOC4 ,A SIMULATION ( URBAN 9SURRECTION %\LD 9CLUDE ! 9T]NAL T5SIONS ?AT ONE ALWAYS EXP]I5CES )9 SOCIAL MOVEM5TS & UPRIS+S4 ,?IS SEMI-COOP]ATIVE EXP]I5CE ALSO CREATES A MORE DYNAMIC PLAY SPACE ?AT ALL[S = DEEP] /RATEGY4 ,& IT PREV5TS ! PROBLEMATIC BEHAVIOR ( ALPHA PLAY]S :O DICTATE :AT O!R PLAY]S %\LD DO ON !IR TURNS4 ,?IS T5DS TO HAPP5 9 ALMO/ ALL FULLY COOP]ATIVE GAMES4 ,IRONICALLY1 BY 9TRODUC+ AN ELEM5T ( UNC]TA9TY & SUSPICION AMONG PLAY]S1 Y\ PROTECT !IR 9DIVIDUAL AG5CY4 ,ANO!R ME*ANIC 9 ! GAME ?AT PEOPLE >E (T5 SURPRIS$ BY IS H[ MOVEM5T WORKS4 ,MO/ GAMES =CE Y\ TO MOVE Y\R PIECES ONE SPACE AT A TIME OR TO C\NT ! NUMB] ( SPACES Y\ >E ABLE TO MOVE4 ,9 ,BLOC BY ,BLOC1 MOVEM5T IS RE/RICT$ BY ACCESS1 NOT DI/ANCE4 ,IF !RE IS AN OP5 PA?WAY US+ ROADS1 HI AS Y\ WANT ) ONE ACTION4 ,EV5 ! L>GE/ CITIES 9 ! WORLD CAN /ILL BE CROSS$ 9 A FEW H\RS AS LONG AS ! CORRIDORS ( MOVEM5T >E OP54 ,AS ! GAME DEPLOYS POLICE & !Y MOVE ?R\<\T ! CITY1 ?IS ACCESS BECOMES 9CREAS+LY RE/RICT$4 ,?IS IS A REFLECTION ( H[ WE >E ABLE TO MOVE )9 CONTEMPOR>Y CITIES4 ,ZONES ( EXCLUSIVITY & 9/ITUTIONAL P[] >E NOT PROTECT$ FROM POPUL> UPRIS+S BY !IR DI/ANCE FROM ?OSE :O HAVE ! POT5TIAL TO RISE UP4 ,!Y >E PROTECT$ BY SECURITY =CES & SY/EMS ( CONTROL ?AT LIMIT ACCESS & CONTROL SPACE4 ,JU/ AB\T EV]Y ME*ANIC 9 ,BLOC BY ,BLOC CAN BE UND]/OOD AS ! 9T]SECTION BETWE5 SOME K9D ( /RATEGIC LESSON & ! NECESSITY ( BALANC+ ! GAME TO CREATE A /ABLE SY/EM FULL ( EM]G5T POT5TIAL4 ,IT'S POSSIBLE TO READ 9TO EA* ( !SE ME*ANICS & DRAW CONCLUSIONS AB\T REAL WORLD 9SURRECTIONS4 ,BUT AT SOME PO9T1 REMEMB]1 ?IS IS JU/ A GAME6 ,A ,P,D,F ( ! ,BLOC BY ,BLOC #bND $ITION RULEBOOK IS AVAILABLE ONL9E = ANYONE 9T]E/$ 9 TAK+ A CLOS] LOOK AT ! GAME'S ME*ANICS4 ,H[ DO Y\R VALUES %APE H[ Y\ APPROA* GAME DESIGN8 ,IS !RE AN IDEOLOGICAL DIM5SION TO ?IS PROJECT8 ,I TRY V]Y H>D TO AVOID TAK+ A DOGMATIC APPROA* TO ?IS WORK4 ,GAMES >E A GREAT WAY ( LETT+ PEOPLE EXPLORE 9T]CONNECT$ IDEAS & SY/EMS )\T BE+ OV]LY DIDACTIC4 ,H[EV]1 ,I'M SURE IT'S APP>5T TO EV]YONE ?AT ?IS PROJECT IS GR\ND$ 9 POLITICAL IDEAS4 ,I W\LD SAY ?AT ! GAME DEVELOPM5T PROCESS = ,BLOC BY ,BLOC WAS GUID$ BY A SPECIFIC E?ICAL FRAMEWORK4 ,A CRUCIAL P>T ( ?AT FRAMEWORK IS ?AT IT C5T]S ?OSE :O /RUGGLE UND] CAPITALISM1 :ITE SUPREMACY1 PATRI>*Y1 & ! /ATE AS ! PROTAGONI/S4 ,I REF] TO !SE PROTAGONI/S ( RESI/ANCE AS 0SOCIAL ANTAGONI/S40 ,! BLOCS >E ?OSE :O ORGANIZE !MSELVES TO RISE UP FROM BEL[4 ,?IS ISN'T A GAME ?AT PLACES ! CONQU]ORS OR ! P[]FUL AT ! C5T] ( ! N>RATIVE4 ,ANO!R IMPORTANT ELEM5T ( ?IS FRAMEWORK IS AN UND]/&+ ( ! IMPORTANCE ( SOCIAL 9SURRECTION4 ,IF WE TAKE A MOM5T TO REFLECT ON ! PA/ TWO DECADES1 WE SEE AN IMPRESSIVE >RAY ( UPRIS+S & REBELLIONS >\ND ! WORLD4 ,SOCIAL 9SURRECTION IS A DEF9+ FEATURE ( \R TIME4 ,IT IS A CRUCIAL =M ( RESI/ANCE & JOY 9 A DIV]SE >RAY ( CITIES 9 !SE FIR/ DECADES ( ! #b#a/ C5TURY4 ,9SURRECTIONS SU/A9 SOCIAL MOVEM5TS & !Y HAVE RE%AP$ ! POLITICAL MAP4 ,BUT !Y ALSO BR+ ) !M ! POT5TIAL = SEV]E REPRESSION & REACTION>Y BACKLA%4 ,SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOT ROMANTICIZE !SE MOM5TS ( CONFLICT & TO UND]/& !IR CONSEQU5CES4 ,IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT NOT TO FETI%IZE ! VIOL5CE 9VOLV$ 9 !SE UPRIS+S4 ,DE/RUCTION & POPUL> EXPROPRIATION >E NECESS>Y P>TS ( SU/A9$ 9SURRECTION4 ,BUT ! SUCCESS ( !SE UPRIS+S IS NOT DET]M9$ BY !IR ABILITY TO DE/ROY OR KILL4 ,URBAN 9SURRECTION IS MO/ EFFECTIVE :5 IT TRANS=MS SOCIAL RELATION%IPS ACROSS A :OLE CITY & REPURPOSES URBAN SPACE4 ,WE CAN SEE ?IS MO/ CLE>LY :5 AN 9SURRECTION IS AN EXPRESSION ( EV]YDAY RESI/ANCE & ORGANIZ+4 ,?IS CREATES ! SOCIAL FABRIC FROM :I* AN 9SURRECTION CAN DRAW ! P[] TO RE%APE 5TIRE CITIES & SOCIETIES4 ,IS ?IS AN AN>*I/ GAME8 ,I ?9K ?AT'S DEBATABLE4 ,BLOC BY ,BLOC IS A GAME = GAM]S MORE ?AN IT IS A GAME = AN>*I/S4 ,WE'VE ALWAYS WANT$ ?IS PROJECT TO /& ON ITS [N AS A GAME ?AT PEOPLE CAN 5JOY EV5 IF !Y'RE UNFAMILI> ) OR UNEASY AB\T ! !ME4 ,AS ,I SAID BE=E1 IT'S AN 9T]V5TION 9 ! WORLD ( GAM+ 9 ?AT IT *ALL5GES ! USUAL N>RATIVES ( OPPRESSION & EXPLOITATION4 ,!RE >E A FEW O!R WAYS ?AT IT DIFF]S FROM MO/ GAMES4 ,WE HAVE ATTEMPT$ TO MANUFACTURE ! GAME 9 A RELATIVELY E?ICAL FA%ION H]E 9 ! ,U,S4 ,! VA/ MAJORITY ( GAMES >E MANUFACTUR$ 9 ,*9A TO TAKE ADVANTAGE ( *EAP] LABOR4 ,& ALL ( ! FILES ONE NE$S TO CREATE ,D,I,Y PR9T$ COPIES ( ,BLOC BY ,BLOC #bND $ITION WILL BE RELEAS$ ONL9E = FREE1 AS WE DID ) ! FIR/ $ITION4 ,BUT OV]ALL1 ,BLOC BY ,BLOC DOESN'T ATTEMPT TO BREAK \T ( ! SPECIFIC =M SET BY ! /&>DS ( CONTEMPOR>Y TABLETOP GAM+4 ,! QUE/ION ( :AT AN AN>*I/ GAME C\LD LOOK LIKE IS V]Y 9T]E/+4 ,MAYBE ,BLOC BY ,BLOC IS A /EP 9 ?IS DIRECTION4 ,BUT A TRULY AN>*I/ GAME W\LD LIKELY TAKE PLACE 9 ! EV]YDAY T]RA9 ( \R LIVES4 ,IT W\LD CRAFT A MAGIC CIRCLE ?AT EMP[]S ! P>TICIPANTS TO SUBV]T REAL =MS ( CONTROL & DOM9ATION4 ,& IT W\LD BE EASILY REPLICABLE1 EV5 = ?OSE ) LIMIT$ RES\RCES4 ,MAYBE AN>*I/S & O!R SOCIAL ANTAGONI/S ALREADY PLAY GAMES ( ?IS SORT ALL ! TIME )\T SPECIFICALLY REF]R+ TO !M AS GAMES8 ,MY HOPE IS ?AT ?IS PROJECT CAN BE P>T ( A MU* L>G] CREATIVE PROCESS ?AT UTILIZES PLAY & IMAG9ATION TO UNLEA% \R COLLECTIVE POT5TIAL TO FI*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 ,*RONOLOGY 3 ,JANU>Y #a#d1 #bbb 3 ,9SURRECTION IS ,NOT A ,GAME -- ,ADD$4 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3 HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/