The Trump White House’s fetish for gamer culture has moved up a level with new arcade
A string of distractions on the US government’s own website invite you to catch pixelated migrants – showing gaming’s potential to be nastily weaponised
TL;DR
- The Trump White House launched a propaganda arcade on its website, featuring distorted versions of popular video games.
- Games like 'Flappy Bill,' 'Supply Line,' 'Build the Wall,' and 'Rio Run' were created to push the administration's messaging.
- 'Build the Wall' warps Tetris to fortify the southern border, and 'Rio Run' involves collecting 'brown people' along the Rio Grande.
- The arcade is seen as an extension of the administration's strategy to use video game memes and imagery for political influence.
- Critics describe the games as propaganda, dehumanizing, mean-spirited, unimaginative, and lazy.
- The use of video game content for political communication is noted as a feature of Trump's White House, with roots in movements like Gamergate.
- This arcade marks a shift from social media posting to actively using games to try and win over audiences.
- The article highlights the increasing potential for gaming to be weaponized for propaganda, noting investments in the gaming industry by entities linked to political figures.