Papers, Please

[sleeve]

no no no no no no no

Part of why Papers, Please is so effective is because it points to--and closes--the gap in film's ability to make you choose between two ethically ambiguous, irreconcilable things. Film can encourage you to identify with the person who makes that choice, but the game goes beyond identification. Identification gives you an out in that gap between you and the action; it lets you think, "Yeah that'd suck to have to do that lol." The game doesn't give you that out. It works as a critique of every single piece of non-interactive fiction in its insistence that "You had to be there." The medium really is the message.

I was hoping to find out the developer totally disavows the short film, but it turns out he was actually involved in its production. Which is a bummer. The game itself disavows the film, though--you need only ask it.

That said, for a movie that misses the point just by existing, it's pretty good.

Are you saying that, because the film shows the outcome of a choice, it removes all of the ambiguity in having to make all of those choices in the first place?

How would you have suggested that they adapt it instead?

[kedawa]

I got some meat in the middle for ya, nancy-boys.

[YellerDog]

2spicy

[A Robot Bit Me]

Are you saying that, because the film shows the outcome of a choice, it removes all of the ambiguity in having to make all of those choices in the first place?

Yes, exactly!

How would you have suggested that they adapt it instead?

I would suggest they don't. You might as well try to adapt Schindler's List into a breakfast cereal.

[kedawa]

Which candy coated bullets have the delicious berry filling? Only one way to find out!

[Cowutopia]

I thought it was pretty good but was surprised that they went in that direction instead of with the secret agent plot.