Propaganda
Ongoing coverage on Propaganda.
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BRAINSHELL – Beta Sign Up | Alpha Beta Gamer
BRAINSHELL is a psychological horror game where players interact with heavy buttons and levers within a nuclear missile, exploring the psyche of a broken man. The game features original music and sound design, and is currently open for beta sign-ups.
Trump Administration takes down Tetris clone after company warns it takes copyright violation 'very seriously'
The Trump administration's website featured a Tetris clone game called 'Build the Wall,' which has since been removed. The Tetris Company publicly disavowed the game, stating they take copyright infringement very seriously and do not support dividing people. The game was criticized for promoting racist depictions and its mechanics made it impossible to win.
The Tetris Company confirms it had nothing to do with the White House's racist rip-off: 'we believe in the power of connection and bringing people together, not dividing them'
The Tetris Company has publicly stated it was not involved in the creation of the White House's 'Build the Wall' game, a reskinned version of Tetris used for political messaging. The company emphasized its belief in connection and bringing people together, not division, and is taking copyright infringement seriously. This statement follows criticism from other game developers and companies, like Halo's co-creator Marcus Lehto and The Pokémon Company, regarding the government's use of video games for propaganda.
White House posts propaganda games on its website continuing its copyright infringement agenda
The White House has been criticized for releasing poorly made games on its website that allegedly infringe on copyright, using branding from Xbox 360, GameCube, and SEGA. The games repurpose classic gameplay mechanics for political messaging, drawing condemnation for their content and alleged copyright violations. This follows previous instances where the US government has used video game intellectual property for propaganda.
Metro 2039
Metro 2039, the next installment in the Metro series from 4A Games, shifts to a darker, more horror-focused tone influenced by the war in Ukraine. The preview highlights a new voice-acted protagonist, expanded surface exploration, and a focus on propaganda and tyranny, though concerns are raised about the filter mechanic hindering exploration and the use of dated jump scares. The game promises improved gunplay and detailed environments that tell their own stories.
Japanese officials have asked the U.S. Government to stop using Pokemon and Mario in social posts
Japanese officials have formally requested the U.S. Government cease using popular video game intellectual property such as Pokemon, Mario, and Naruto in social media posts without consent. Concerns were raised that such usage could be inappropriate and potentially harm the perception of these franchises. The U.S. Embassy in Japan was contacted regarding posts made by official government accounts, including one that superimposed a campaign slogan over Pokemon art and another that used clips from Wii Sports alongside military footage.
Business and Finance
A retailer has warned of potential stock shortages for Grand Theft Auto consoles. The article also questions the continued presence of Russian propaganda on the Steam platform, highlighting business and industry concerns.
Amid mass layoffs at Bungie, the official White House X account issues sociopathic Destiny 2 meme
The official White House X account posted a Destiny 2-themed meme featuring an AI-generated image of Donald Trump, which has drawn criticism for its insensitivity given Bungie's recent mass layoffs. The meme's release coincided with Bungie announcing significant job cuts affecting many employees, including those on the Destiny 2 team, leading to accusations that the government is mocking developers.
AI Yi-Yi!
This article examines the dual role of Artificial Intelligence in the tech industry and global affairs. It explores how tech CEOs are attributing recent mass layoffs to AI, while simultaneously, AI-powered propaganda is influencing geopolitical narratives, specifically concerning the U.S.-Iran conflict.
Halo Master Chief actor condemns 'juvenile war porn' clip from White House
Steve Downes, the voice actor for Master Chief in Halo, has condemned a White House propaganda video that used his voice and the character to promote the war in Iran. Downes stated he did not consent to or endorse the video's message and demanded its removal. The clip also featured other pop culture icons, drawing criticism from figures like director Ben Stiller.
Master Chief voice actor demands White House remove his voice from 'disgusting and juvenile war porn' video
Steve Downes, the voice actor for Master Chief in Halo, has requested the White House remove his voice from a video posted on their X account. The video, titled "JUSTICE THE AMERICAN WAY," is described as propaganda related to the war in Iran. Downes joins other performers who have objected to their likeness or voice being used by the White House for political messaging.
Master Chief actor calls out White House's use of Halo footage in "disgusting and juvenile war porn" propaganda
Steve Downes, the voice actor for Master Chief in Halo, has demanded the removal of his voice from a White House propaganda video that glorified the war in Iran. Downes stated he was not consulted and does not endorse the video's message, calling it "disgusting and juvenile war porn." The Pokémon Company also recently objected to the White House's use of its intellectual property in political content.
Halo’s Master Chief Voice Actor Calls Out White House Propaganda
Steve Downes, the longtime voice actor for Master Chief in the Halo series, has accused the White House of using his voice for propaganda without permission. The controversy has sparked discussions within the gaming community and among voice actors about intellectual property rights and the misuse of recognizable voices, especially in the context of advancing AI voice generation technology.
'Oh s**t, here we go again': White House uses videogame clips to promote its war in Iran, including CJ's iconic line from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
The White House has used iconic lines and imagery from video games like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Halo to promote its military operations in Iran and other political messages. This tactic, also employed by other government agencies using Pokémon imagery, has drawn criticism and a lack of comment from major game publishers like Take-Two Interactive.
US governor boosts US-Iran 'combat footage' that is actually from War Thunder, featuring WW2-era weapons
A video circulating on social media, claimed to show a US battleship shooting down an Iranian fighter jet, has been identified as likely gameplay footage from War Thunder, featuring World War 2-era weaponry. Texas governor Greg Abbott shared the clip, which has since been deleted. Investigations suggest the warship resembles the USS Tennessee and the aircraft a German Messerschmitt Me 163B-1a Komet, with no real-world reports of such an event. This incident highlights the growing issue of video game footage being mistaken for or used as real war footage for misinformation and propaganda purposes.
A War Thunder clip shared on social media as footage of the war in Iran racked up over 7 million views, and was even…
Footage from the military simulation game War Thunder has been widely shared on social media, falsely presented as real footage of the conflict between the US/Israel and Iran. Gaijin Entertainment confirmed the footage is from their game, and this is part of a trend where games like War Thunder and Arma 3 are used for propaganda and misinformation. The article provides tips on how to distinguish between real and fake video game footage.
