Author of this article: Yunji
If you were invited to participate in a system test, and the system could help you see things that you normally cannot see, how would you choose to achieve justice and justice in your heart? I believe that by now, there are many games with similar plot content that have appeared in your mind, but what I want to talk about now is a relatively unpopular virtual reality puzzle game that breaks the fourth wall-"Orwell".
At the beginning of the game, when we, as Orwellian system testers, are preparing to enter the Orwellian system, the game will require us to choose our favorite avatar and enter our name to create a personal profile (counted as an archive in the game). The next step also requires us to enter our real-world email address (although it may be for feedback on the sequel and game-related content, but here it has begun to slowly bring us into the game), and then we will officially enter the game content.
The whole process of the game is like an American drama, revolving around a serial bombing case. As investigators, in order to find out the culprit behind the explosion, the first NPC in the game, Symes, will give us the file information of the first suspect, and then gradually open up the three main permissions of the system to investigate the other party.
Among the three permissions, viewing is to use the web page to find information related to the suspect and the bombing (there are many simulated reality games that have this basic gameplay, and the game here thoughtfully marks all the keywords); eavesdropping, no need There are too many explanations, but the only regret is that there is no game like "Public Enemy" in this place with voice to allow players to enter; hackers, intruding into the suspect's computer and mobile phone, if the other party is not a computer expert, it is completely You won't realize that you are looking at the other person's privacy.
However, this game does not just end after investigating the first suspect, Cassandra. When we slowly collect a lot of information, you may find that she may be just a small supporting role in this "game". Behind her, there is an organization called "Thought". In order to challenge (in the game) ) government and the Orwellian system planned an "astonishing" conspiracy.
takes the game's gameplay of using keyword entries as an example. The game's keyword entries are integrated into a large amount of text content, especially when these entries are integrated into Cassandra's character relationship network. We not only have to find them one by one. For those entries that are helpful for advancing the case, you have to consider and judge whether some contradictory entries correspond to the character's personality and the events that occurred. During this period, the game will also deliberately plant suspense and reversals on Cassandra, Harrison, Nina and others, and also try to disrupt the players' thinking by killing the thought leaders at the end. It can be seen that the game takes great pains to set up the conspiracy.
It’s just that the game didn’t lay out the true purpose of the real mastermind at the end. Even at the end, the two NPCs made the players realize their guilt and accept justice. It was just like those who drive high and play low. Film and television are no different, turning this Orwellian system into a child's play. However, fortunately, the choice of the final ending lies with us. No matter who is sent to prison in the end, we will follow him in. It is really a good black humor .
Thinking about what attracted me to this game in the first place, it is that it allows us to find the real criminal through the information given by the game like a detective. And there are many places in the game that quietly break the fourth wall between us players and the game. For example, as mentioned before, we established Orwell's personal file, and then Orwell's system collapsed. Our existence was discovered by "them" in the game. Step by step, we very cleverly made our own rhythm. As long as the player Entering the scene in one second, this sense of breakthrough is very exciting.
It’s just that the game has many shortcomings that cannot be ignored in its own conception and ending.Many people say that "Orwell" is a tribute to the book "1984", but they have not established the idea of this book, because the setting of Orwell's system to select overseas personnel as testers destroyed a circle of hypocritical utopia. . Moreover, the protagonist group in the game was investigated because they were an anti-government group and had harmed others and violated the laws of the country. What qualifications did they have to talk to players as testers about the issue of freedom and ask players to act for it? Do you pay the price for your actions (this is just an Easter egg at the end and will not really affect the player's real life)? Moreover, the so-called privacy issues in games are not ultimately found by others for analysis because they choose to put them online. If you think about this, the concept of the protagonist group of "Orwell" will instantly feel childish and ridiculous.
On the other hand, the Orwellian system also has flaws, which can be seen from the contradictory entries and invalid entries. If the player is not cautious enough to do analysis, then the entry chosen to upload is likely to be One-sided content (because once uploaded, it cannot be modified or withdrawn), this is very reflected in Symes' biased words. Although players can regain some disadvantages when making key choices, it is far less than the development of the story that seems to be heading towards a place that glorifies terrorism.
I believe that human nature is inherently evil. Without certain legal and moral constraints and an understanding of the world and oneself, society cannot tolerate the existence of such a person, and he will not get the so-called freedom at all. And these ideological members in "Orwell" only carry out their own self-righteousness from beginning to end, and are clowns with no sense of existence. Because the game also buries a hidden line, players can use this to speculate that Delacroix's opponent is likely to take charge of the national defense security in the game after she steps down. If this person knows that the Orwellian system is so easy to use, could he? Won't a new surveillance system be built? This possibility of an uncertain answer will also be their new nightmare in the future.
They can't get the so-called freedom.
