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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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Newsringtoning?

by Gonzalo Frasca June 22, 2005

categories: Political Games

Certainly, this is not game related but it may be a hint for cellphone game developers out there. It seems that the Philippines went crazy after a ringtone featuring a political recording from its president was published (CNN story.) This is simply another example about entertainment and "serious" content going together. People do care about reality and they want to make it a full part of their entertainment-related activities. Once more, serious and fun can go together.

Comments (1)

I actually heard about this the other day from one of my mum's friends. The country is in an uproar over the veracity of the recording. Apparently, several experts have concluded that it is, in fact, her voice. However, there are a couple of different recordings. Copies of the recording were claimed to have been tampered with, and some official produced what he said was the original recording. Anyway, I don't think anyone really knows what the heck is going on, but the public has latched on to the ringtone as a symbol for what many believe is a corrupt administration.

Brinstar on June 22, 2005 2:39 PM

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