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This review is an exploration and analysis of 'A Force More Powerful' which is an educational tool in the form of a computer game designed to teach activists how to conduct nonviolent campaigns. In addition to introducing players to the principles of pragmatic nonviolence, a process of experimentation teaches players to think strategically. Players compete in a number of scenarios against a regime and implement nonviolent tactics which form part of an overall strategy. The practical structure of the game allows players to apply the tools and lessons learned to real-world nonviolent campaigns.
The computer game ? Force More Powerful' (AFMP) instructs players to conduct nonviolent struggle and think strategically. My original intention was to keep plain description to a minimum in favor of insightful analysis. However, I soon discovered that the sheer complexity of the game required extensive description for the reader to fully understand how the game works as a training tool. The game itself introduces the player to a practical template on how to analyse and plan for nonviolent conflict. The structure of the game, therefore, is itself a lesson.
AFMP, an interactive strategy game released in March 2006, was designed by the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict (ICNC) and the media firm York-Zimmerman (the groups behind a book and documentary series of the same name), and developed by BreakAway games. After receiving feedback that activists around the world were using their documentary series as a training tool, the creators decided to design a purpose built educational tool in the form of a computer game that not only teaches the principles and techniques of nonviolent action, but also allows users to interactively learn how to think strategically. In creating the game, a range of consultants were recruited, and among them was Ivan Marovic, a self described 'gamer' for 20 years and co-founder of 'Otpor', the Serbian youth movement widely credited with helping to oust Slobodan Milosevic.
The creators of AFMP made a conscious choice to avoid high-tech graphics and special effects found in most computer games in order to make the game more accessible to activists who might lack access to cutting-edge computer technology. The game is also inexpensive at US$19.95 (many computer games cost twice as much) and can be...