Ian Bogost - Water Cooler Games - Police Profiling Game

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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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Police Profiling Game

by Ian Bogost April 11, 2005

categories: Public Policy Games , Social Games

NorthJersey.com reports that New Jersey State Police has commissioned a game to help state troopers understand and counteract racial profiling. It's a significant project, with $650,000 committed to WILL Interactive to develop the game.

I'm not sure how much of a game it will be. The article tells the story of a live shoot for the game -- "They are filming a new computer video game on a side street of Hammonton..." In this case they are filming one possible outcome of an altercation between the fictional Officer Martinez and Paul, an African American man.

The computer user will watch a scene unfold, then make choices about what to do next. In one version, Paul could show his ID without a fight or wind up with a face full of pepper spray and in the hospital. In another version, Martinez could decide to arrest the young men or first interview the person who made the call.

Given these clues, the gameplay sounds fairly rudimentary, with most of the detail wrapped up in intricately shot video clips that the player would choose between. Given the state's hope to help troopers "understand the complex dynamics of the public perception of racial profiling," it's a bit disappointing to see all that budget go into filming a few specific scenarios rather than programming a vastly larger multitude. Still, it's interesting to see a law enforcement game oriented toward protecting civil rights.

(thanks to Zach)

Comments (4)

I have a brilliant idea that will save New Jersey taxpayers big bucks! Ready to hear it? Here goes:

You will need:

One wig

Two Two-dollar whores

One police badge

A can of Mace

Handcuffs

A camcorder

A gun

First, make sure you pay the whores. Not paying a whore is considered shoplifting. Next, give one whore the cuffs, Mace and badge. Give the other the wig. Then, tell them to act out whatever parts you have planned, while you film. Threaten them with the gun if you have to. When everything's done, it's presentation time. While you watch the movie with the police, remember to: Shake your head during the racist parts. Nod during the politically correct parts. Run out of there at the slightest hint of displeasure. Remember: Cops have guns! They don't think twice about poping caps up some money-sucking, pasty-faced geek's ass.

Wig $30

Camcorder $500

Whores $2

Gun, badge, cuffs, Mace- Just borrow them off of a cop.

Final Cost: $532

Badabing! I want $649,468.

Capt_Poco on April 19, 2005 12:30 AM

Anonymous on April 28, 2005 2:43 PM

Capt_Poco, your proposal just will not work.

Clearly two $2 whores will cost $4, throwing this project entirely out of budget.

Jean Dupree on April 28, 2005 5:47 PM

cool