Ian Bogost - Water Cooler Games - Game and Holograms for Peace in Jerusalem

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Water Cooler Games

Water Cooler Games served as the web's primary forum for "videogames with an agenda" — coverage of the uses of video games in advertising, politics, education, and other everyday activities, outside the sphere of entertainment.

The site was maintained at watercoolergames.org from 2003-2009, where it was edited by myself and Gonzalo Frasca. It is now archived here in full.

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Game and Holograms for Peace in Jerusalem

by Ian Bogost March 29, 2004

categories: Political Games , Religious Games

Wired reports on a plan to use a blimp, holographic temple, and MMOG to bring peace to the middle east.

The Jerusalem Games System, as Hayutman now calls his project, has
evolved into a cross between Myst and Doom set within the walls of
old Jerusalem. ... [Players] can choose to kill each other, but they won't be able to move to the next level if they do. The goal is to unlock the secret that will induce the coming of a messiah - whether players believe he will turn out to be the Christian Jesus, the Jewish Moshiach, or the Muslim Mahdi.

(via Barry Joseph)