At a time when every bit of international news seems to come straight from a new Gorafi craze, and when deepfakes and fake news are now part of our daily lives, a new video game publisher is trying to respond with humor to this somewhat crazy situation. Indeed, the independent publisher Métablue has just launched a crowdfunding campaign for Fakebuster, a mobile game designed to train players to detect fake news.
Video games against fake news
What if, instead of endlessly scrolling through social networks, you used your phone to strengthen your critical thinking? This is in any case what Fakebuster, by Métablue seems to offer. An experience that the publisher presents as both geeky and civic: through a sort of quiz that will make you become, step by step, a real "fake news" hunter.
The concept is simple: faced with a series of tricky statements, it's up to you to spot those that manipulate the truth. Correct answers increase your "Sophia" score (the game's points system) and allow you to progress through increasingly tricky levels.
But don't expect a boring game like multiple choice questions or baccalaureate revision. Here, fake news is illustrated with cult references to Star Wars, Game of Thrones, The Matrix, and The Simpsons. You'll encounter forum trolls, manipulative robots, and disinformation wizards in games lasting 5 to 10 minutes (so perfect timing for your bathroom breaks). Behind the humor and nods to pop culture, the goal is clear: to arm yourself against the prevailing disinformation, misleading arguments, and viral manipulation. Fakebuster!
In the tradition of committed games like This War of Mine (which we discussed in detail here), which places players in the shoes of civilians in times of war, Fakebuster embodies a new form of ludopedagogy: one that entertains to raise awareness. Métablue, the young association behind the project, has an ambitious mission: to put geek culture at the service of civic reflection.
With this first mobile game, the team wants to offer a tool that is accessible, fun and impactful, so that everyone can learn about the mechanics of disinformation. Planned as a free game at launch on iOS and Android, it is now possible to support this promising project via a crowdfunding campaign on Ulule (right here). Contributors will obviously be able to obtain exclusive rewards and numerous bonuses accessible from the launch of the game (skins, early access to levels, etc.).
And depending on the game's success, all this could well be just the beginning: Fakebuster arrives with a whole universe already well developed in the minds of its designers, as evidenced by their mascot with the evocative blond locks and the numerous costumes it seems to be able to wear.
And if this kind of initiative by enthusiasts interests you... Don't hesitate to discover our article Miyazaki: this fan is making the live adaptation of the master's first film, or even Kaamelott: this new LEGO imagined by a fan needs your support to exist.
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