For this week you are going to revisit our computer game “Orwell-Keeping an Eye on You” and we will read the first pages of George Orwell’s 1984. Now that you have played the second episode of the video game Orwell, you clearly see some references that the game makes to Orwell’s surveillance novel, but how does the game reference the book? In this blog post, please tell us more about your second time playing “Orwell” and specify how it references the novel – answer at least 2 questions and respond to at least one other student response.
1. After the first time that we have played the Game “Orwell,” you wrote a review of the game during one of our break-out sessions in class (Here is a link to our reviews). If you’d review the game again, but now with a focus on the second episode, what would you change? Did your perception of the video game change, now that you played it for a second time? If yes, how? Do you play it differently? If yes, why? If not, why not?
2. Now that we have talked more about surveillance in our class, do you see different surveillance themes in the video game “Orwell”? Are you more alert to surveillance and how it can impact one’s surroundings?
3. Can you spot different references to Orwell’s 1984? Why do you think the game is called “Orwell” and not “1984”? Does that shift from the name of the novel to its author leads us towards something?
Use examples of your own game-experience with “Orwell” and incl. at least one quote from George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four to back up your arguments (only applies if you answer the third question). Make sure you’re your blog is about 250 words long. Your blogpost needs to comment, respond, or critically engage with your classmates’ blog entries. Consider this blog to be our conversation starter. We will continue the discussion in class on Tuesday!
If I was to review Orwell again after playing the second episode, I would probably keep most of my review the same. I found it very frustrating when the game would sort of stall as you missed a clue. It was really hard to find some of the information. However, the graphics and background music was very good. The main story line is good. I definitely found that I was more careful with inputting information in the second episode. Unfortunately, I still inputted the wrong information and didn’t stop the attack on the mall. After you input something, it is hard to take it back.It was also cool how they had a website get ‘hacked’ in the game, which is very feasible in real life.
After discussing surveillance in class, it is easier to see surveillance themes in the game. It is creepy how they track phone calls and texts, but the same thing happens in our world today. Additionally, the monitoring of social media accounts proved to be very useful in the game, and it relates to how companies may check your social media before hiring you in our world. I have found that I have become more alert to surveillance in our world. When I walk around, I look for security cameras. I am also more conscious of what I put on my social media and how often I use it. I have also realized that by watching reality television, I am basically watching people. It is interesting how common surveillance is in our world today.
My perception of Orwell hasn’t really changed my stand on it is that it’s a game that introduces its viewers to a lot of real-world circumstances. I ran into a similar problem as Beth, whenever I solved a clue the game would stall and buffer which was frustrating, and at some point, the game completely shut down. The way I play the game hasn’t changed drastically, I’m more aware of reading the clues and not just clicking on everything they highlight though. It felt like the more you progressed through the game the harder it became, naturally, however, it also made my computer hot to the touch and noisy. I often wonder how alike surveillance in the real world is to this game and what made them include certain aspects because these ideas couldn’t be far off from the truth. It really does make you think twice about everything and it introduces a new kind of curiosity and fear.
The surveillance themes within the game have obviously increased in complexity but other than that I haven’t taken note of any other significant changes. I definitely have become more alert, to an extent, regarding social media. I don’t have Instagram, so I don’t have to worry about that social media outlet but I do have Snapchat and recently I’ve been questioning how significant the role surveillance plays in Snapchat. Snapchat, unlike Instagram, has options on whether or not your location is visible and not to mention your sending pictures in the moment making it easy for anyone to locate you.
I agree, apps like Snapchat do have more advanced privacy features. I find it a little creepy it tracks your location though. Hopefully with being more aware of surveillance we can be more careful with social media.
I agree with Beth that I would not change much towards my previous review. The only thing I would probably change would be how I felt being the person looking into other people’s lives. In the second part, the game begins to get a lot more intense and players are able to dive deeper into each suspect’s lives such as gaining access to bank information. This time when I played the game, I thought about what information I was giving to the database and what was actually useful information and what was not. Throughout the game I also felt as I was more a part of the game in a way and I allowed myself to get more interactive with the game instead of just playing the game to play it.
I feel as though in our class we discussed how there are many different types of surveillance and there are many present in the video game as well as in the book. In the book 1984, Winston states “The horrible thing about the Two Minutes Hate was not that one was obliged to act a part, but was impossible to avoid joining in” (Orwell 101). I felt that this quotation can be a parrel between the game and the novel because in both situations we know what we are doing or what is happening is wrong but there is a sense of control that surrounds us. I feel as though I have become increasingly more aware of those around me and their actions. I also find myself paying more attention, especially to my electronics and how possibly my electronics could be a form of surveillance.
Dear all,
it is unfortunate to read that the game is crashing! If somehow you run into more technical difficulties, there is also the option to watch youtube videos in which someone else plays the second episode for you – of course, the immersive effect is lost, when you do that. (For example here: https://youtu.be/Y9ab2zHchnA)
I felt very similar to Ella; the information was a lot more intimate in this episode. I felt much more connected to the storyline and was much more concerned about what information was crucial to the plot and what should be left out of the database because it gave off the wrong message. Lily was saying, the game really presents a real-world scenario that is accessible to the public, and I fully agree. In a way, some individuals’ jobs are to sort through information online and check for a suspicious character. We also do this in a way when the average person reports a post on Instagram or Twitter, for example. This chapter was slower than the previous, just like what was said by Beth. I was trying to stay focused and entertained, but there was a lot of dead time in this episode. With that being the only negative thing I have to say thus far, the game has been an overall decent experience.
I noticed some similarities to the panopticon while reading the excerpt from 1984. The panopticon ensures that the prisoner or observed individual is on display at all times, and “there [is] no way of knowing whether [they] are being watched at any given moment”(Orwell 90). The panopticon style surveillance is apparent in the telescreens and the thought police. Also, The purpose of the panopticon is to educate and change the behaviors of those being observed. The telescreen and the thought police caused the civilians to “live from habit that became instinct– in the assumption that every sound [one] made was overheard” (Orwell 91). There is also religious surveillance with the idea of Big Brother and how he is always watching. He is referred to by one woman as “My Savior” (Orwell 102), and his gaze is inescapable, like one of a god or deity.
1. After playing the second episode, my review of the game did not change much. The game itself is still rather bland, however solving mysteries I suppose is a bit fun. I’d say I don’t play it very differently, as the game tells you what you need to do in order to progress. I do think that it is interesting that the game takes you to different endings depending on which conflicting information you submit to Orwell. As Beth said, it is hard to take information back after you submit it, so you have to pay careful attention to which sources you upload conflicting information from. Luckily, I was able to choose the correct information and prevent the attack on the Circle Mall.
3. While playing the first two episodes of “Orwell”, I noticed many references to George Orwell’s 1984. Obviously, the excessive surveillance of the citizens is similar to the surveillance in 1984. More specifically to the novel, however, is the title of the game, the George Orwell quote on the Thought blog, and the name of the man you work with as the player, Symes. Syme was a character in 1984, who worked with the main character Winston at the Ministry of Truth. I believe the title of the game is “Orwell” and not 1984 because the game takes place in 2017, much closer to the present day than 1984. That being said, the game has much less surveillance than the book 1984. In the novel, “telescreens” are used to spy on citizens in their private homes as well as any public spaces with no reasonable cause necessary. Whereas in the game “Orwell”, we only hear of the surveillance being heavy in the public spaces, and law enforcement only spies on citizens through their phones, emails, etc. when those citizens are deemed a threat to “the safety of the citizens”.
During my first time playing Orwell, I did not approach it very seriously. I viewed the game as an interesting activity, without giving too much weight to the implications of my actions – albeit I was somewhat aware. As several others have said, the 2nd episode was more immersive and thought provoking. My focus definitely shifted to a more contemplative role. The actions in the second episode have grave consequences – I had the power to stop a bombing and save lives; I also had the power to possibly inadvertently lock Cassandra up for years. Due to the duality of my actions during the game, I also started to contemplate who was on the ‘right’ side. This situation, government security, is undeniably complex and gray – yet it is still necessary of us to attempt to decipher the morality of the means of surveillance, which Episode 2 definitely prompted me to do.
Studying surveillance undoubtedly allowed me to be more aware of the surveillance themes depicted in Orwell, subsequently allowing me to think more critically about my actions and own complicity in the game. In Orwell there are many different means of, and motivations for, surveillance. This variety contributes to ramifications in many different aspects of one’s life and surroundings. In Orwell, Cassandra is potentially facing years in prison due to information disclosed in what she believed to be a private conversation. One member of the band ‘The Targets’ understood the dangers of surveillance and deleted numerous online posts in order to secure a job at a notable newspaper. But, such as in Cassandra’s case, it is not solely your own surveilled behavior that can affect your future. Cassandra’s friend is the one who disclosed Cassandra’s guilt in the chat, an action Cassandra had no control over – yet still faces serious consequences for. Like Beth and Lily noted, both our studies of surveillance and playing this game have also made me more alert to surveillance in my own life, and the different factors that impact me.
I admire your comment about Cassandra’s private life and how it is being exposed in this case with out her consent. I did not think about that aspect so thank you.
This is a very crucial aspect in contemporary surveillance and is called “the network effect” (exposure of private information by others than can be harmful at a later point)
After playing episode two of Orwell, my review on the game has changed a little bit. At first, I thought the game was extremely boring and felt like a scavenger hunt. Like Beth says, it was very frustrating when the game sort of stopped. If you can’t find a clue there are no hints on where to find it and the game stalls. I spent a collective hour and a half trying to find one clue because the game was taking me nowhere. Other than these glitches, my opinion has changed quite a bit. I found it a lot more interesting this time around because more characters are introduced. While at first we looked at Cassandra alone, now we move on to her friend; her friend has family, other friends and teachers that we also look into. Every time we explore a new person someone else is attached to them which helps broaden the story line.
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he obvious differences between 1984 and Orwell are that the perspective is completely opposite. In 1984, we get to see the viewpoint of Winston being watched. After reading, I feel bad being in the spot of the ‘watcher’. While this quote is not in the excerpt assigned, one of my favorite quotes from this book is “If you want to keep a secret, you must hide it from yourself” (Orwell). This resonated with me while playing the video game because we are bombarding someone’s private life secretly. I think that the game is called Orwell and not 1984 because George Orwell also writes many other books with the same type of theme, like Animal Farm. While it still directly relates to 1984, the term Orwellian is used in literature to define a futuristic totalitarianism state which is a better, broader title for the game.
1. I personally had issues with trying to get Orwell to work properly, but other than the technical issues, I am still enjoying the game. Although it is not the most exciting and it can be frustrating when you get stuck, I think it does a strong job at reflecting real life scenarios. As a few people said, the second episode definitely delves deeper into the characters personal lives and shows a different side of them. And as Chloe said, although the game gives you directions and there isn’t much opportunity to do your own thing, it can be difficult making sure you choose the right information while collecting data.
2. After playing the second episode, I noticed that it was easier for me to pick out surveillance themes throughout. Like in today’s society, they can track your location, messages, phone calls and even more through your phone. Although this access is used for good, such as looking for threats of dangerous situations, it is not impossible for anybody to access your private information. And like how colleges and potential employers will comb through someones social media to look for red flags, the game does the same thing in order to gather information on Cassandra and the others. However, I don’t think that learning more about surveillance has changed my perception of my personal life. Everything is online in today’s society, so I am just not surprised how easy it is to access so much about someone.
My review on the game has barely changed even after reading 1984 and playing the second episode of Orwell. The game overall is kinda boring, it got a little more interesting in the second episode with new characters being introduced but still just a click and drag simulator with a story to me. As many people have said, it is very annoying when you get stuck because you cannot find the last clue of one section, then you search for 30+ minutes just for the clue to be something minor. Only fun aspect to the game is the information you can gain from technology but as far as gameplay goes, it has stayed the same for me.
The difference between 1984 and Orwell is the point of view you see while reading or playing. After reading 1984, I gained lots of sympathy for the characters you keep an eye on in the video game “Orwell”. The character Winston is being watched in the excerpt we read from 1984 and he becomes extremely paranoid because of it. “…he continued to feel a peculiar uneasiness, which had fear mixed up in it as well as hostility, whenever she was anywhere near him.” (Orwell 97). In these pages Winston is describing people around him and how they rise his suspicions. I believe the reason why the game is named Orwell over 1984 is because 1984 was the time period the book was set in, at one point Winston is writing a note and was dated in 1984. The video game Orwell is set in 2012 I believe and the 1984 title would not work as well,also the name Orwell is a very intriguing title, not because of the name but how it sounds.
Beth said it perfectly. While playing the second episode of Orwell, I was constantly frustrated with both the game and myself when I couldn’t find a clue. Once that happened, the game would just sort of give up on me, and wouldn’t give me any further information. In fact, it almost got so bad one time that I had to look up what I was missing. Apart from these struggles though, I thoroughly enjoyed playing. The background music helps add a rushed feel to the game, and makes it feel like you’re rushing against the clock. Then, when an important event happens, the music becomes loud and piercing. I thought that was a great touch to an otherwise great game.
Through our discussions in class about surveillance themes, and methods, I slowly started to realize how surveilled our lives are in today’s world. Whether it’s through Snapchat, Instagram, security cameras, Siri, Amazon Alexa, or so many more 21st century surveillance techniques, anyone and everyone can know who I am, where I am, and what I’m doing. This is something that truly scares me, and has made me change my Instagram profile to private, go on ghost mode on Snapchat (so people can’t see my location), and delete certain apps on my phone. After playing Orwell, I came to the final realization that social media can be good (at times), but it allows anyone to see right through you.
After playing the second episode of Orwell, it made me reconsider whether what I, as the detective, was good or bad. It was interesting to see how the information I put in would impact the next decisions, which was something I noticed when I saw what happened when I put in the government building for an attack rather than the mall, I realized it was a mistake but it makes me wonder what would’ve happened had I put the mall in instead of the government building.
Reading and playing Orwell, along with our class discussions made me think about how relevant and real surveillance is in our lives. Especially since the Edward Snowden incident, almost all people are aware of surveillance occurring, yet it’s something that we continue to allow. Nonetheless, there are precautions some take, such as using a VPN or being mindful of their data double and whatnot, but it makes you wonder how far our governments have gone with surveillance, and how far the people will let it go.
The first time I played the game I really didn’t put much attention to it since I thought it was more of an activity. I was finding it a bit boring and I wasn’t really interested in it, but after playing the second episode, my thoughts about the game have changed. but now it’s more interesting since new people are being introduced. As some of my classmates where saying, yes i was getting a little frustrated because it was taking me longer to find a clue and like Ava said the game doesn’t give you any hints in order to continue. In 1984 and Orwell are completely opposite. Throughout the book Winston was going into detail how he was being watched.
After discussing surveillance in class, it has given me a better understanding about surveillance in our world and in the game. Like Beth was saying yes it’s very crazy and creepy how they track phone calls and text. At first I didn’t take it into consideration but now when I go out in public or just anywhere in general I’m always looking around for security cameras or if someone’s watching me. When it comes to my social media I am more cautious about the things i post or say. Also one of the most used apps is Snapchat. We all use it and we know that the app has an option to share your location with you friends. It’s very scary because anyone can locate you where you at and even if you’re on the road they can see your “bitmoji” moving.
After playing the second episode, my review is pretty much the same as the first one. I think that the game is fun and interesting but if you do not know where to find the information they are looking for, you kind of just sit there and it gets a little annoying. So I do agree with Beth when she says that it is frustrating, but the storyline is good. I think that figuring out what’s happening and figuring out if the main character is guilty or innocent is very interesting but is also a little difficult because you can’t take back information and I don’t want to make her seem one way or another. In the second episode, I definitely played with more patience and I was more aware and careful with what clues I chose.
In the second episode of the video game, surveillance has become more clear and more distinct. Nothing is really private and everything you delete on social media and the internet can still be found. Texts, calls, articles, private information, was all public to me. I know that basically all my information is online and can be found, and I have tried to be more private with what I share and post on social media. Also, websites are always asking for your location and I’ve definitely become more careful with that. I’ve always been very alert about surveillance, but I think that I have noticed more how it affects others rather than just me.
1.After playing the second episode of Orwell I would say my perception of it did not change. It seemed similar to the first episode except with more detail and introduced more characters. I would keep my review the same except add that the episodes are pretty lengthy and I began to get bored toward the end. I also found myself searching for hidden information while other information was coming in, which got somewhat overwhelming. I found this episode more interesting and I found myself more engaged, even though we are prompted throughout the game. I don’t believe I played the game differently, I just felt I was more focused and eager to see the next clue this time around.
2.Because are studying surveillance so in-depth in class, it is causing me to be more aware of surveillance in my everyday life as well as in Orwell. I went into this episode waiting to see more examples of this. One was a conversation I observed between Symes and Cass. He knows a lot of information about her and she doesn’t even know who he is. In addition I feel I am guilty because I am the one operating this game and gaining all this personal information about the individual. Within my everyday life I have become more aware of the spreading of my personal information. Especially on my phone I feel like the apps I use always attempt to gain more access into my life which I shut down, and hopefully it actually shuts down but they could be gaining this information discretely.
Continuing into the second episode of Orwell did not drastically change my view of the game, I still continued to feel uncomfortable being presented all of this personal information about citizens without their approval, regardless of the circumstance. I ran into the same issue as Lily and Beth where the game would lag after finding clues or freezing. I would rate the game pretty well just because I do think it’s important for citizens to view this situation and government presence with surveillance. This game is not always user friendly as we have seen, but it gives us another way of learning and taking part in this governmental surveillance. Although the game did get harder and that made it more entertaining, it also reinforced the “I shouldn’t have access to or view this personal information.” There are also plenty of references to Orwell’s 1984 throughout the game, such as the character Symes and the technological surveillance such as wiretapping and video recordings like “There was of course no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any given moment. How often, or what system, the Thought Police plugged in on any individual wire was guesswork. It was even conceivable that they watched everybody all the time.” (pg. 90). The game is called Orwell and not “1984” probably on the basis that this is George Orwell’s vision and the game producers wanted to make that clear, or the fact that this is a modernized game and in no way actually references the year “1984”.
I along with many of you agree that my view of Orwell the second time around doesn’t change much at all. I still play the game the same because most of the time its just showing you what to click and it seems more like a book than a game to me. There are still instances where you have to chose between conflicting pieces of evidence but not enough to make me feel like I am exploring my own course throughout the game. Although my view hasn’t changed, the game still shows me how prevalent surveillance actually is. After my experiences with the game and the book 1984 I have thought much more about surveillance in our lives today. Every time I’m on social media it’s one of the first things I think about and it makes me appreciate privacy more. I agree with Beth when talking about how the game opens our eyes to surveillance in a so called creepy way but also in a good way. As showed in the game it can be used to try and save lives as well as create a better society.
One of the main differences between George Orwell’s 1984 in the game or well is the fact that in George Orwell’s universe the police can plug directly into your brain and monitor your thoughts. “The thought Police plugged in on any individual wire was guesswork. It was even conceivable that they watched everybody all the time. But at any rate they could plug in your wire whenever they wanted to.” (pg. 90 ln 31-34) In the game Orwell, it is a more technological sense of surveillance where you can closely monitor people’s social media, and you can watch them via the security cameras. George Orwell’s society is a much more dystopian unrealistic and exaggerated reality based on science fiction. The game Orwell seems to be more like what we have right now in countries such as China and to some extent in America. Facebook has been working to reveal people’s names based on snippets of their face, and Google has done similar research on identifying people via parts of their faces. This creates a form of necessity to hide who you really are from the public or governmental eye. I personally was aware of this before playing Orwell, but I think that it can reveal the truth to the unaware population. I agree with Chloe Jackson “I believe the title of the game is “Orwell” and not 1984 because the game takes place in 2017, much closer to the present day than 1984” I also believe the game is called Orwell instead of 1984 because it is based loosely on Orwell’s dystopian reality but have some close parallels such as the presence of a security state.
After playing the second episode of Orwell my perception of the game has changed slightly. The only thing I would change about the game is to add things other than websites and texts popping up. I think they should add a way to hack in to someones personal files to get to know them more. It seems a little farfetched that we as investigators have automatic access to these records popping up on our screen. Another thing I would change about the game is an actual surveillance part. For example, you can control your guy and place hidden cameras wherever you choose, and if you are not strategic about it Cassandra gets away. My perception of the game did change slightly because it is definitely becoming more independent and you don’t get as much help as you did on episode 1. The second chapter took a lot longer for me cause I feel there was a lot more reading and a lot more stuff you needed to pay attention to because there are more characters.
There are various surveillance methods used in the game such as researching and intercepting messages and phone calls. It is not all straight forward and easy to complete however. A tiny misleading detail that you think is “important” can backfire on the whole case. After playing the first two chapters it is clear I am more aware of how surveillance can impact a persons surroundings. In an investigation like this, it is very good to have these various types of surveillance. However, it has also enlightened the fact that criminals could just be hacking and doing this to innocent people which honestly is very creepy. I have learned so much about surveillance just from a video game.
After playing the second episode of the Game “Orwell,” my opinion did not change. While the game is a unique concept, I quickly become bored from always searching through documents for highlighted material. Instead, I would enjoy more diversity within the tasks, such as using CCTV to watch surveillance clips for clues. I also feel unfit to make assumptions based on emotional tweets to determine someone’s accountability or innocence. Agreeing with Beth and Chloe; once you decide if a piece of information is helpful or incriminating, you can not take it back from their records. In this chapter, I became careless with data, inserting anything highlighted, which interfered with finding the third location. This carelessness, I feel, stems from the tedious, repetitive scavenger hunt layout of the game. While I enjoy the graphics and music, I still cannot find myself playing this for pure entertainment.
Looking past my criticism and opinions of the game, it displays surveillance in a realistic, modern way. The video game, Orwell, uses new surveillance to monitor and observe potential suspects of terrorism. I realized that Jeremy Bentham’s Panopticon Penitentiary method, minus the prison, is used to monitor citizens’ everyday lives. We are randomly observed by the government and independent organizations when we buy a smartphone or turn on our location, making us mindful of what we do. What makes this unsettling for me is in the game; the information I required from text and phone calls was completely legal. The Safety Bill allows this spying on citizens on the bases of protecting the nation from threats. Like the game, the United States Congress passed the Patriot Act after 9/11 to protect against terrorism, giving the FBI permission to search citizens without reason unknowingly. I will continue to be alert with what I say online and even talking on the phone, never knowing when they are listening.
I loved this game. I got so into it that I’ve played the entire game through multiple times. At first, it was very repetitive with the same motions over and over again, but as you continue through it gradually gets more and more intense. Moving through the episode we get introduced to more characters and that helps develop the storyline further. It was frustrating at first because I got stuck but I eventually found another clue and was able to proceed. The intensity increases which was interesting, but just wait until the later episodes.
In comparison to 1984, the perspectives are totally opposite. In 1984, we watch the story unfold from Winston’s perspective of being watched. After reading, my feeling of being the watcher changed and didn’t sit quite right with me. It was really hard to have someone’s private life be so vulnerable to me, even though that was a fictional character. The name Orwell is really perfect for this game because George Orwell’s novels all pretty much center around these same topics of surveillance and troubled government. Similar to what Ava said, the term Orwellian is used to define a broad topic of writing in which a futuristic totalitarian state is in question.