VR Simulation Puts You On The Frontline Of The Hong Kong Protests
To help spread awareness of the protests and assist users in empathizing with protestors, a team of Hong Kong students has developed a VR simulation that puts you on the frontline of the ongoing conflict.
Players take on the role of a frontline protestor and are tasked with dodging tear gas, ducking behind barriers to avoid projectiles, and avoiding capture by riot police. According to an interview with one of the developers, it was important for the team that the player only be allowed to commit non-violent actions, as to more accurately represent the non-violent behavior of real protestors. As a result, payers are unable to inflict damage on riot police or engage in any illegal behavior.
Along with participating in anti-government demonstrations, players also have the opportunity to learn about the actual protests. Player can visit a VR recreation of one of the cities “Lennon Walls,” which feature words of encouragement written across colorful post-it notes; this includes phrases such as “fight for freedom” and “five demands, not one less.” There’s also an interactive element that educates players on major protest events, such as the Yuen Long Mob Attack, the Prince Station Attack, and the highly-publicized shooting of an 18-year-old protestor by law enforcement on National Day.
The development team is currently speaking to online distributors in the hopes of releasing the title to the public next month, though past events have shown the process to be anything but simple.