Hong Kong Protest Game
The Hong Kong Protest Game is a satirical newsgame to highlight the trials and tribulation of street protesters. The game coincided with a series of peaceful demonstrations occurring on Hong Kong Island, mainly around the government offices in Admiralty.
The player takes the role of the protester. The game contains three stages, containing typical elements such as pepper spray, riot police, blockades and more. Each stage is a mini-game in itself.
First stage
Stage 1 is a satire of pepper sprays employed by the riot police to control protesters. Since pepper is one of the loved ingredients in congee (a local delicacy), the player shall carry a bowl of congee and attempt to get 'pepper-sprayed' by the police. Points are collected if the pepper spray hits the bowl.
Second stage
Stage 2 is a satire involving celebrity Lady Gaga. She happened to be in the country during last year's protests, prompting local fan fantasy that she would join the demonstration. (This, in reality did not happen).
Final stage
Stage 3 involves a straight-up run against the blockades set up by the riot police. The player has only 5 lives, which means he/she can only collide against the blockades a maximum of 5 times.
Upon completing all stages effectively, the player is presented with two choice. Choosing any of the choice would result in a specific animation, meant to inspire.
Game progression
The game is designed in a progressive manner. The player has to complete each stage successfully in order to progress to the next stage.
Social aspect
The game links to players Facebook accounts (with their consent) and creates a leaderboard for players to compete with one another.
Technology
The game was developed by a local news agency, using HTML5 technology. With HTML5, the game ran on smartphones, tablets and desktop computers from a single codebase. This allowed the client to engage newsreaders on virtually any consumer device.
Cost
HTML5 technology allowed development time to be reduced by 60-75%, essentially giving massive cost savings to the client. The total development cost was estimated to be under 5000 US Dollars.
Distribution
The game was accessible from a single web link and easily distributed among local news agencies and Facebook fan pages. Banner ads were also another way of marketing the game.
Social Impact
This satirical game prompted a positive response among online newsreaders, generating tens of thousands of traffic and Facebook likes. It made the general public aware of what's going on in Hong Kong's political scene, while maintaining a less tense atmosphere through a fun and engaging casual game.