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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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Hold the meat

by Ian Bogost March 24, 2005

categories: Activism Games , Social Games

Vancouver-based Veggie Games specializes in "games that promote kindness and compassion towards the animals that share our planet, and increase awareness about environmental issues." Their recent release Steer Madness allows the player to take the role of Bryce the Steer, who you can pilot to rescue animals, deliver soymilk, protest against fur, rescue chickens in an electric car, and take on other environmental and vegetarian challenges. The game recently took home an award for Innovation in Audio at the Independent Game Festival, and it was also runner-up for Best Animal-Friendly Videogame at the PETA Proggy Awards (Eidos Interactive's Whiplash took home that prize, in case you were wondering).

(thanks to Pierluigi for reminding me we hadn't posted on this yet)

Comments (3)

I realize that this game has certain intentions but really... it needs more guns.

Ok, I know, that would defeat the purpose. But... what is the purpose? This game is NOT going to convince anyone who wasn't already on their side to join their ranks and change their lifestyle. So who was this game made for? What's the point? I think the game is like a sermon. Its like a reiteration of a common goal rather than telling the world a new message.

The designers REALLY need to improve its game engine. I realize its the message that counts here, but the medium carrying the msaage is pretty awful.

Veggie games had an opportunity to bring new people into their fold with this game, and I'm sorry, but with graphics and gameplay like this (from what I can tell) its just not going to happen.

Jean Dupree on April 5, 2005 6:07 PM

This game makes me want to cry.

How can these veggies stoop this low?

I mean a veggie store and an electric sports car?

They say the game is non-violent, but I found myself trying to hurt myself more and more as the game progressed.

Do these people a favor, when you eat a 16 oz. steak, make sure you get some vegan approved carrots on the side.

I prefer mine Medium-rare.

Steve Colber on September 2, 2005 12:21 AM

Kill kill kill, drive more, drive lots more, be apathetic

Yes, those vegetables, bicycles and electric cars are a MENACE to society.

Gollygee on May 21, 2006 8:14 PM