Between February 5th and 7th, Merge Games Ltd. plans to release RIOT: Civil Unrest. This real-time riot simulator will be available across the PC, Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch. Set amidst some of our world’s most recent urban conflicts, RIOT promises to put you in the heart of each conflict.
Experience the struggles that both protesters and law enforcement members suffer! RIOT boasts four campaigns and at least 30 historically inspired scenarios, from the riots in Oakland California to Tahrir Square in Egypt. Now you have to choose: Will you play as the rioters or the peacekeepers?
The Game’s Origin:
RIOT: Civil Unrest was inspired by the creator’s own experiences. In 2011, Leonard Menchiari took part in the NO-TAV protests in northern Italy. There he witnessed the divisive actions of protestors and law enforcement alike. His intention is to portray the emotions on both sides of each conflict, from the frustration of the protestors to the fear the police feel while being so outnumbered. What instigates the violence in each scenario? How much pain does each side suffer and inflict in turn? Menchiari hopes to portray a balanced perspective from both sides in his game.
The game also rates player performance based on how they achieve their objectives. Players can choose what methods they use, from violent strategies to achieve quick victories over the opposing forces, to gentler approaches that will preserve your public image.
What the developer seemed particularly keen to highlight was the characters’ A.I.. Each person in the game has their own behavioral patterns, which should provide a more fluid, realistic, and potentially volatile simulation. Furthermore, PC players have access to an editor and can create and share their own scenarios!
So will the protestors overcome a well-equipped group of police, or will the law manage to conquer overwhelming numbers through training and grit? Let us see what happens, come February! If you want to know more about RIOT and Merge Games, visit their website here!
