ImpactGames has released PeaceMaker, billed as “a video game to promote peace.” The game is a simulation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the goal to provide a stable resolution to the conflict and win a Nobel Prize. It costs $20 and is available for Mac OS X and Windows.
PeaceMaker lets you play both sides of the issue, taking on the role of either the Israeli Prime Minister or the Palestinian President (in fact, the developers recommend that you play both sides to fully understand the issues). You react to in-game events — diplomatic negotiations, military attacks or suicide bombs, for example. Those events are supplemented by real news footage and images. PeaceMaker is centered around 20 role-based actions in three main categories — security, political and construction. It’s a turn-based game.
The game features eight internal and external “actors” representing Hamas, the public, the U.S., the United Nations or the Arab world. Any actions you take will immediately affect the stakeholders — they may make decisions that damage your efforts to establish a lasting peace.
Although PeaceMaker hasn’t been age-rated by the ESRB, Impact Games said that it’s the equivalent of “PG-13,” containing violent news video and graphic images. The company is aiming the game at “socially aware adults and teenagers worldwide,” hoping to interest both players at home and high schools, college classrooms and community groups.
System requirements call for Mac OS X v10.4 or later, PowerPC or Intel, 128MB RAM and 500MB hard disk space.