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German government is backing a Battlestar Galactica game to educate aspiring diplomats | |
(about 17 hours later) | |
Either the German government is full of sci-fi fans or the recent reimagining of Battlestar Galactica has tangible real world relevance. | Either the German government is full of sci-fi fans or the recent reimagining of Battlestar Galactica has tangible real world relevance. |
The German Federal Agency for Civic Education is funding a five-day getaway aboard a retired destroyer for 80 aspiring diplomats — they'll be role-playing Ron Moore's post-apocalyptic TV series. | The German Federal Agency for Civic Education is funding a five-day getaway aboard a retired destroyer for 80 aspiring diplomats — they'll be role-playing Ron Moore's post-apocalyptic TV series. |
Project Exodus, which will begin on February 4th, will see participants immerse themselves in a character that will enable them to explore the political topics the show interrogated — freedom, safety, ideology, government. | Project Exodus, which will begin on February 4th, will see participants immerse themselves in a character that will enable them to explore the political topics the show interrogated — freedom, safety, ideology, government. |
The Mölders destroyer will host the game The organisers told the Verge that the aim is to "experience problems of our society from a completely new viewpoint". | The Mölders destroyer will host the game The organisers told the Verge that the aim is to "experience problems of our society from a completely new viewpoint". |
"They will be confronted with new situations and impressions that will leave a lasting mark on their thinking." | "They will be confronted with new situations and impressions that will leave a lasting mark on their thinking." |
The role playing itself will last two and half days, with 1 and a half set aside for preparation and one for reflection. | The role playing itself will last two and half days, with 1 and a half set aside for preparation and one for reflection. |
Assuming the project sort of sticks to the script, participants can expect to try to set up a civilian government in the face of devastating and ongoing war (maybe with a cyborg species) and develop strategies and solutions for ideological guerrilla warfare. | Assuming the project sort of sticks to the script, participants can expect to try to set up a civilian government in the face of devastating and ongoing war (maybe with a cyborg species) and develop strategies and solutions for ideological guerrilla warfare. |
It's not the first time a high-concept game has been backed by a government; Sweden offers funding to similar games and, as the Verge points out, some American Civil War reenactments approach larping (live-action role-playing). | It's not the first time a high-concept game has been backed by a government; Sweden offers funding to similar games and, as the Verge points out, some American Civil War reenactments approach larping (live-action role-playing). |
And while this is a fresh project for the GFAFC, the cultural bureau has done things like publishing comics. | |
Neither is Battlestar Galactica new to being taken seriously; it was designed to recontextualise the post-9/11 political landscape, and was even given a proper send off by the UN when it finished back in 2009. | |
Of course the game is sold out, and spoken exclusively in German, but people can witness the goings-on of the Mölders destroyer on February 8th. | Of course the game is sold out, and spoken exclusively in German, but people can witness the goings-on of the Mölders destroyer on February 8th. |
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