IMAGE: (YouTube/Javelinreds)
BY CHRISTIAN BRYANT
A new video game trailer with some historical perspective sets the Internet ablaze. Take a look at this.
Javelin Reds Gaming recently released a trailer for their new game. It’s called -- get this -- “Slavery: The Game.” This role playing game (RPG) is set in the 17th century and the context is self-explanatory. Players work to become the most powerful European slave trader by buying, selling and disciplining slaves.
Publicity stunt? Skeptics investigated. One -- a reporter for The Escapist -- points out...
“The weird bit about this whole thing... is that neither this game, nor the people making it seem to exist anywhere outside of [Slavery The Game dot com]... Javelin Reds Gaming, the title's supposed creator, doesn't exist as far as we can tell.”
As it turns out, the video game was a hoax. The Dutch broadcaster NTR admitted the trailer was a fake and claimed responsibility. But why? The answer, given by an NTR researcher, might surprise you.
“I thought it was controversial, but very important to focus the attention on the subject of slavery. Especially in the Netherlands where people don’t know that much about slavery. Moreover, it still exists today.”
A press release from NTR details the ambitious objective to educate the Dutch on slavery through a television show. It reads,
“The purpose of the trailer is firstly to confront people with an important, but often-neglected part of history. Secondly, the trailer aims to increase awareness about the existence of present-day slavery. From Sunday September 18 onwards, Dutch public broadcaster NTR brings a TV series called ‘De Slavernij’ (‘Slavery’ in Dutch).
The press release goes on to say that the series will build on personal records, diaries, past documents and conversations with survivors. To also educate younger viewers, a children’s version of the series will air alongside the adult version.
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