"I find modern war games to be highly distasteful," says games designer Luc Bernard, the man behind the PS Minis title Mecho Wars. "They teach players to kill, but not understand anything about why they're killing." Bernard is hoping to change that with his next game, Imagination is the Only Escape.
Originally aimed at the Nintendo DS, the concept first surfaced back in 2008 but Bernard was unable to secure a publisher — hardly surprisingly when you consider the game tells the story of a young Jewish boy and his efforts to escape the Holocaust. It's a war game like no other; a game which looks to show war for what it really is — a terrible, tragic event which should never be celebrated, much less turned into some kind of entertainment.
"In today's games, you're fighting zombie Nazis or robot Nazis, which to me feels like a fairly crass attempt by the designers to distance themselves from the terrible atrocities committed by that regime," states Bernard. "You're taking a horrific moment in history and turning it into a toy, a plaything. I create a lot of games that are pure fantasy and have no basis in reality, but when it comes to real events, I would never take the approach that many modern developers do. You have to have respect for the past and the people involved when you're tackling real-life events, such as war and conflict."
Bernard is crowdfunding Imagination is the Only Escape and has been talking to a lot of platform holders about the chance of it being released on their system, should the campaign prove successful. Unsurprisingly, given its recent push to work with as many indies as possible, Sony is top of the list right now — which pleases Bernard immensely. "Working with Sony on Mecho Wars was great — I would say they are the best console manufacturer to work with. They were just fantastic. I can't mention much about Imagination yet, but Sony are looking at it and I hope they think it fits their platform."
Another reason Bernard is pleased is because he has a lot of adoration for Sony's portable console. "I just love the Vita," he says. "I think the Vita TV will be a huge hit. If Sony ever came knocking and said asked me to make an exclusive game, I would do it right away."
Although Bernard can't guarantee anything at present and admits that talks with Sony are at a very early stage, contributing to the crowdfunding campaign for Imagination is the Only Escape would certainly take the game a step closer to the Vita. Let us know what you think of Bernard's comments and if you're keen to see his unique vision hit Sony's handheld by posting a comment below.
[source indiegogo.com]
Comments 11
Looks... grim.
Yes, I imaging this is a horrible truth for the dudebro/casual audience(everyone on console shooters are casual).
I'm backing it, probably not playing it but this needs to exist on one of the big ones.
@RawShark Such is war, my friend.
I think it can turn out to be a great game that tells a great story.
Wow. Risqué, man. I like the twist of using a solemn experience to touch the player more deeply than a fun/exciting tone. I can't wait to find out more about the gameplay style too. Fascism's effects on the personal level really have to be experienced "first" hand in order to comprehend. Kinda like The Diary of Anne Frank vs a history textbook. I'm way intrigued.
@Faustek "everyone on console shooters are casual."
I guess you also believe that anyone over 14 that still plays Pokémon is a nerd/virgin.
It's totally cool if you don't like console shooters, but don't go around saying it as if it's a fact, because aside from being incredibly wrong, it also makes you look bad.
@Lelouch sorry to say this but until we're part of the eSport we're all casual. And everyone who believes otherwise need to wake up and realise it.
I don't mind being one I do enjoy watching the pros thou totally different league.
Edit:
About the nerd/virgin part.
Nerds? Hell yeah we are, some more than others. Virgin? No clue but if your 14 I hope you are, was terrible at treating girls that age and my friends where no better so yeah I hope 14 year olds are virgins.
@Faustek Every player that plays these games aren't "dudebro" or whatever you call people. People play whatever they want and don't need a immature opinion or be called something childish of what they play. This is what i'm talking about people like you can play the games you like but it's so easy and "cool" to put down others over what you don't like or try to make the rest feel uneasy and that's fact. It's just a game at the end and I know you going to comment something that doesn't make any lick of since to me but I'm just sick of kids calling others garbage that doesn't even exist in the dictionary.
On topic this has the making of what could be a great game! Personally I don't see any other manufacturer outside of Sony that would go for this, either way sounds like it will be niche but I'm fine with that. Just don't give me a typical happy ending (Heartless I know sorry)
@Lelouch I was still a virgin at 14 I was a geek and still did not like pokemon it was a stupid anime, there was so much better out there! Never played the game so cant comment on it. But Your avatar & name tells me You DO have taste in anime
@Snkfiend and jebus man, hit a nerve?
I was directing the comment to the demographic known as "dudebros" never did I address the general mass although I find it funny that you think I'm behaving like a kid, no one has called me a kid in at least 25 years. I would suggest you read my comments again.
Dudebro; those that send you rape/murder/I feed your mother comments.
Casuals; not part of the exports circuit? Welcome to the land of casual gaming, its fun here trust me.
Oh and remember when talking about/to a group its important to be on their level so the parties can understand each other else its just wasted time.
Well if you read my comment again correctly I wasn't calling you a kid I was stating that "I'm tired of kids calling people immature names that doesn't exist in the dictionary" but your first comment doesn't even have a level of your statue you speak of. So to say Urban talk like "Dudebro" isn't even a word but I digress though I'm sorry if I offend you in any way but I still don't agree with none of your comments stating facts that's just fiction so I want to end this please thank you and have a good day/night.
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