News Speak is a puzzle simulation game set in a dystopian authoritarian nation, where players act as censors in the “Ministry of Public Happiness.” Players edit news articles by replacing sensitive words with graphic signs, affecting public perception and the state’s politics. The game is set in a post-war country under a coercive new government that controls all media. The Ministry uses semiotics to censor content, preventing dissent. Players choose from graphic signs to replace words in news texts, such as replacing “beat” with an icon of a swinging bat or flowers. These choices influence public understanding and can either obscure the news to prevent unrest or maintain a semblance of truth, affecting the nation’s future. The game mechanics are inspired by the Newspeak language from George Orwell’s “1984,” and explore semiotics theories by Charles Sanders Peirce and information theory by Claude Shannon. Players face the challenge of shaping the narrative through strategic censorship, reflecting on the impact of language and control in shaping public consciousness. News Speak integrates these elements into its gameplay, challenging players to navigate the ethical and political dimensions of information control.
Team:
- Hao Liu
- Ziwei Wang
- Baoliri
- Siyuan Zhang
- Zihan Wang
- Zhewen Luo
- Zhaoxia Quan
