Andy Tompkins and Andy Sheerin are busy people. They own a web design company called Digital Spoke and another company: TerrorBullGames, which produces board games. One board game, to be exact. It’s called ‘War on Terror’.
As though the title wouldn’t speak for itself, here’s their claim:
“It’s got suicide bombers, political kidnaps and intercontinental war. It’s got filthy propaganda, rampant paranoia and secret treaties and the Axis of Evil is a spinner in the middle of the board. You can fight terrorism, you can fund terrorism, you can even be the terrorists. The only thing that matters is global domination – err, liberation.”
Pretty to the point. From their FAQ:
Is this for real?
Absolutely.
No, seriously?
Really, seriously. It’s not a joke. Well, it kind of is, but no, it’s a real game. Called ‘War on Terror, the boardgame’. We can’t understand why so many people think it’s some elaborate hoax. Look, you can even buy the War on Terror right now!
And to make thinks even clearer: Excerpts from the Terrobull Games Manifesto:
“Rule no.1 at TerrorBull Games: Everything’s game. World politics, environmental catastrophe, looking for your wallet. It’s all fun. It’s all fair game. Why should anything be excluded from a game? Are some subjects so hallowed that we can only discuss them in hushed, respectful tones? We don’t believe so. Being ‘hushed’ represses opinion, supresses discussion, interaction, shouting, anger, laughing. Natural human responses.
Here’s rule no.6 (rules 2-5 are concerned with TBG office dress code): If you’re expected to have a certain opinion purely because everyone else holds this opinion, it’s probably wrong – or at least worth questioning. Worth talking about. Worth making a game about it. Pull it apart. Laugh at nonsense. Make it fun.
I can relate to that. I think the game looks like real fun, though it’s tasteless and totally politically incorrect. But as the Andies write: Satire was funny once!
Long sigh… Do you remember these times?
The homepage of Digital Spoke, fine web design from Cambridge.
Hompepage of Terrobull Games and of Tom Morgan-Jones, the illustrator of the game. Fantastic.
Homepage of War on Terror, the Boardgame, where you can order the game and read all about it.
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