I think the second image is from Frostpunk, a civ-survival strategy game. Frostpunk is notoriously difficult and through gameplay encourages very extreme human rights abuses to survive, like resorting to child labor and cannibalism. Probably what they are implying.
Funnily enough, many Chinese gamers have come forward saying that Frostpunk is too easy while Western gamers were saying the opposite. Chinese gamers tended to be better at resource management as well as understanding that suffering in the short-term can allow for prosperity in the long-term. Western gamers had more trouble.
source: https://bjocs.site/index.php/bjocs/article/view/197
excerpt
“…we will look at the simulation game Frostpunk (11bit, 2018) and the online youth-devised “Great Socialist Production” (shehui zhuyi da shengchan社会主义大生产) play method. In this play method, youth players denigrated the western-facing morality system in the game, instead choosing to focus on a play method which emphasised hard work and sacrifice in return for a brighter in-game future.”
https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028533/hit-game-frostpunk-fueling-debate-socialism-china
comrade gamer quote
“[The developers] didn’t intend for Chinese people to ‘emphasize revolution, boost production’ and survive by maximizing productivity. What capitalist countries told us through this game – socialism is badass!”
Chinese gamers tended to be better at resource management as well as understanding that suffering in the short-term can allow for prosperity in the long-term
“Dats cuz they all brainwashed hivemind no indivualism! Unlike me, freethinker!” - Reddit
I’m surprised the second article you linked bothered to include that quote because it’s otherwise anticommunist af
Yeah SCMP is pretty bad usually, mostly including the article as it’s an easier read than the scientific abstract, plus the quotes are rad
And humanity being able to survive and even thrive in the harshest of climates is, in fact, based as hell.
What capitalist countries told us through this game – socialism is badass!
The urge to try the game intensified
I quite enjoyed the little bit of it I played. I think it’s pretty good for what it is, and it certainly made me consider some pretty heavy ethical choices.
Man I LOVE Frostpunk it’s one of my favorite games
I love the Last Autumn dlc cause you can actually start a communist revolution when trying to build the generators before the cold hits
I mostly stream games thru steam link now so I wish it had controller support, though it would probably be a nightmare navigating through menus. That sounds dope as hell though, and a representation of what needs to happen prior to our own climate apocalypse 😵💫
After some consideration, I also have to comment on the image chosen for the “tsarist” period. Vikings. You know. A type of “über cool badass” that westerners wank, and that have never fuckin lived in Siberia.
Socialist culture being based as fuck yet again.
Tsarist Russia
Has Vikings and clearly Nordic themes
Yeah okay.
