Is “Underground Game” in your opinion the right term for a political, non-commercial gaming scene? While some don’t mind the term, some seem to be skeptical about it, stating that a self definition of underground is inherent inauthentic (we had, however, the uComix or various literature and press collectives using the term “Underground”) or that the association with illegal activity could be a problem; these people, however, seemingly also most often disagreed to the far left political orientation of the Underground Gaming idea, and I’m not sure if those not just aren’t bourgeois doubts.
“Alternative gaming” comes to my mind. But “Underground” fits well.
I’m a bit worried about the far left.
Hi Peter. The whole idea is inherently left, as the whole thing makes only sense if you doubt that capitalism automatically produces the best result by applying the forces of the market. If you don’t, you just could strife to make the ideal, market compatible game and get rich, and it wouldn’t be a problem.
But I do believe that capitalism doesn’t work as intended: We have a environmental disaster at hands, are at brink of WW3 and have a outrageous global injustice, leading to mass graves at the outskirts of the “first world”. All of this 30 years after the capitalists said that we have reached the ultimate peak of human history. What do you think is the harm that the far left could do?
If you want to make games outside of this capitalist system and your art doesn’t live from the belittling of others, you are welcome. You don’t have to make political art yourself, but accept that others give their answers and deal with those questions. As said, the concept is inherently non-capitalist, and right wing stuff is explicitly ousted - so the remaining answers are bound to be left or far left by design.