Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Game developers are building a game that has various advocacy groups worked up before it’s even released. In this particular incident of this all too familiar news story, immigration advocates are up in arms over the upcoming game Smuggle Truck by Owlchemy Labs, creators of Super Ramen BROTHers [Free]. In the game, players take control of a pickup truck loaded with illegal immigrants attempting to cross the US border. Looking at the trailer, gameplay seems similar to a amped up version of Mr. Onions, a seemingly similar physics-powered platforming game that I had a great time with.
News of this hit the Associated Press yesterday, which really couldn’t possibly be better for Owlchemy Labs as it seems like everyone (ourselves included) is feverishly republishing this story in one form or another. The good news is, not everyone is taking this so seriously, as thankfully there are still some people in this world who can differentiate video games from reality. The very same Associated Press story also includes the following very choice quote from Steve Kropper, co-director of the Massachusetts Coalition for Immigration Reform:
“In America, we are used to trivializing everything," said Kropper. “I think ‘Smuggle Truck’ will do to the immigration debate what ‘Angry Birds’ did to ornithology."
If all goes as planned, Smuggle Truck should be available in March.
