War on Terror Blog
Friday 22nd September 2006
End of a long week in the long war
We thought we'd try and round up the latest events. So far we've taken almost 450 orders for the game. We're a bit behind on sending out our 'thank you for funding the war on terror' certificates, we'll get there in the end. It looks like another weekend will be spent working, and we thought we'd finished, still, it is the 'long war' after all.
We've done many interviews and it's been an interesting insight into the 'media'. Seeing what people publish about the game, the angle they want to take on the story. In the name of transparency here's a couple of transcripts of interviews with The Sun, ABC News and yet more questions we've answered.
To clear up some common questions, the games are due to arrive at the end of October, we'll publish exact dates when we know them.
To clarify the rumours, we have been banned from the Essen, Nuremberg and New York toy fairs. We're waiting to hear from the UK toy fair but they're not responding to our communication.
And if you're still wanting to read more, Andy T needed to let off some steam.
Play nice!
- posted by TerrorBull Games on 22 September 2006 - 0 comments
Tuesday 19th September 2006
TerrorBull Games' media adventures
Well it's been a funny old day. If you don't mind, we'd like to relive it with you in condensed format.
7.50am - Radio Cambridgeshire
Look, we're just two lads who made a boardgame, since when are we people who make coherent political commentary before the sun's up? OK, the sun was up... which was also a surprise. Interview as good - complete with laughs and jokes as it should be. Credit to Steve Riches who was the first interview of the day and managed to keep things focused.
8.20am - BBC Asian network
Into another studio and a quick interview with the Birmingham based station. Instant getting into rather "heavy" territory about the taste of the game and zero questions on what the game actually is.
8.40am - Coffee interrupted by Smooooooth FM wanting a soundbite
As you can imagine, this soundbite was swift and possibly less than helpful.
8.50am - Mentalness
Switch the phone on after 10 minutes of peace. 13 missed calls and 9 messages. Everyone wants to do an interview NOW.
The BBC said this didn't really "fit the 'shock' angle".9am - 10.30am - It's all a blurry mess
Sorry, we literally did so many phone interviews that we lost count. That sounds terribly meeedja, dahling, but it's true. From what I recall, Radio 5 Live, Q103, Rock Fm, Virgin Radio, 3 Counties Radio, BBC North, Newstalk Ireland .... Um, seemed like more.
11.00am - The Sun, Irish Independent and more
Apparently our beautiful mugs have graced the pages of the Sun, the Irish Independent and others. We're not sure what others, we just have vague reports. XFM in London covered it too.
11.30am - ITV Anglia News studios
They want to do something on the "controversy". Had a very pleasant chat with the presenter and a bit of a laugh setting things up. Bit weird doing staged playing of the game and again the questions were ever-so-serious. Get the feeling that we're losing the agenda a bit. It's all new.
12.30 - 3pm - Bit of relaxation
Heads still spinning; tried to get on top of things. Already, some interesting things are happening: quotations are taken out of context; quotations are re-used by different media; mis-quoting is less of a problem for journalists than, say, deadlines; people want "radio-friendly" 10 second soundbites, no matter how complex the subject matter. Begin to feel slightly uncomfortable about it all.
3.30pm - Look East (BBC regional news)
After lots of interest, they decide not to run with it. Apparently they were very "po-faced" in the office and decided they didn't want to give bad men like us the publicity.
4.30pm - Train to London
BBC London want to do a live TV interview. Bit wary, bit scared, but why not? All in the spirit of learning. We have a feeling they'll get a 9/11 or 7/7 survivor into the studio as a 'surprise'.
6.00pm - BBC studios
They just want one of us. A coin toss decides Mr T. takes the stand. A dice roll would've been more appropriate. As expected, they have someone who lost their partner last July in the London bombings. What's incredible is that we are told by the show's producer that this guy took the time to read bits of our website and mentioned there were some good points. The BBC said they would probably cut this from their report as it didn't really "fit the 'shock' angle". Another great insight from the presenter, after we got a bit excited about world events off-camera - we were told "we can't get into foreign policy".
6.30pm - About to go on air
Minutes before we go on air, we get reports about Anglia TV butchering our interviews. I guess that's what TV is about. Seems like the editorial team might've had a different idea to that of the presenter. Not seen it yet, so can't really comment.
7.00pm - All over
It's been a bit of a mad day and a surprising - even shocking - end. Never thought the BBC would try and 'push' an agenda so much. I guess the story is all about "outrage", so it's in the media interest to insist upon outrage, whether this is true or not.
8.00pm - Tinnies on the train
Classy. Reflecting back on the day, we definitely lost track of the fun element. THIS IS A BOARDGAME. We wanted to shout: "Just a game!". A bit cheeky, sure, but just a game. I don't think we've started any illegal wars. Yet.
9.00pm - Lovely emails
It was great to return to so many messages of support. Really, thanks for getting in touch, those of you who took the time and trouble. After a day of "isn't this sick? what are you doing? what an outrage!", to get a load of emails basically saying, "this is brilliant" - that means a lot. We're getting an idea of how unrepresentative the media really is...
10.45pm - Writing the blog
End of a long and crazy day. To give you an idea of what people really think about this issue, here's a line or two from our inbox. And unlike the BBC, we'll make sure it's truly representative. Cheers.
- A fanastic breath of fresh air in the messed up world! If you cant laugh in life, why bother living
- I read the article in the Cambridge Evening News and absolutely need to own this game. It sounds hilarious and fun.
- Keep your cool, knock them dead & remember that regardless what narrow minded blinkered attitudes may be throw at you - you do still hold the moral high ground
- I believe you may have devised the single most effective way to educate the people of this country on the horrors of the US/UK foreign policy
- I have to say its clearly a stroke of genius or perhaps an indication of too much time either way its a brilliant idea.
- hey just wanna say i really support what ur trying 2 do we need more people trying 2 educate people in what's going on
- sold out bastards. could you be more stupid? you are missing something in your lives. integrity. how many people thought of this and didn't do it?
- Your representative made a good point on the REAL casualties in these times, those living in Lebanon. I intend on buying your game, if only to support your views.
- Saw London tonight on the bbc. I'm surprised that with their history of ground breaking satirical comedy that they would have so completely missed the point about this.
- I think you guys are genius. The mood of a vast portion of the nation is we are SICK of this "war on terror" BS
- Being able to laugh at our predicaments is what stops us going berserk, or even insane.
- When the Muslim terrorist effect you and your family you may feel differently about it! The Muslims are the problem not Britain or te USA!
- Just want to give you a quick note to say I saw the BBC London segment on the game, and thought that was some appalling journalism. Such emotive unbalanced drivle.
- People seem to have forgotten what satire is.
There you have it. We'll write a more formal (press release) response in the morning. But for now, good night. And play nice.
- posted by TerrorBull Games on 19 September 2006 - 0 comments
Monday 18th September 2006
Local outrage at "Terrorism board game"
Well we wouldn't expect much else from our home town, but the Cambridge Evening News have pulled out all the stops (and a previously undiscovered font size) to bring the "disgust" element of the story to the foreground. They even sought out a 7th July tube bomb survivor to ensure the emotional reaction wouldn't go untrawled.
That's got to be in the '10 ways to close down a debate': "Evoke an emotion which cannot be reasoned with". Fear works well, day-to-day, of course, but outrage and disgust are also great ways of derailing an argument.
We were interested in the theory that it's ok to make and play a game about the second world war, because it's slightly abstract and lost in the sands of time, but a game about terrorism is well out of order. Our problem is that war is too abstract even in the present.
By saying it shouldn't be banned, he's immediately bringing WoT into the frame of a banning discussionJust as July 7th survivor, Jacqui Putman, quoted in the CEN, isn't keen on our board game because she's been closer than most to terrorism, we think the public appetite for war would be greatly reduced if there wasn't this level of abstraction. If the images and reports of war weren't so sterile and sparing of the horrors of violent conflict.
The first journalist to ask us if our board game isn't a bit insensitive when considering tens of thousands of innocent lives were lost (and continue to be lost) during the Iraq 'war' will get a double-thumbs-up from us.
Also interesting to note is how Jim Paice MP decried our game, while magnanimously stating that our game "shouldn't be banned". The subtext of this remark is that a board game could be in the arena of something that might be banned. By saying it shouldn't be banned, he's immediately bringing WoT into the frame of a banning discussion. After all, if something really shouldn't be banned, why would you even mention it shouldn't be banned? It's like commenting on the new range of Tesco pizzas and adding "of course, I don't think they should be banned". That'd be nonsense. If it's truly incongruous, you wouldn't mention it.
That said, we're certain the CEN put the question thus: "do you think this game should be banned?" Good work, chaps.
- posted by TerrorBull Games on 18 September 2006 - 0 comments
Monday 4th September 2006
Factory proofs and advance ordering
Ho ho ho, exciting times. We just got the first proofs back from the factory and it looks sweeeeet. It's a BIG CHUNKY BEAST. Seriously, this is a beefy boardgame, jam-packed with goodies. That's right, a beefy jam sandwich of a game, oozing mischievous satirical juices from every crevice. Even if we say so ourselves, it's looking marvellous.
We've also just sent the payment system live so you can now buy the game and rest those fears of it selling out before you can get your hands on one. Oh, and the first 500 orders get a signed, limited edition certificate type thing.
Unfortunately the games aren't due until end October, so there's still some waiting to do. However, there'll be plenty of news in the meantime - we've had some interesting phone calls, but we'll save the details of that for later.
- posted by TerrorBull Games on 4 September 2006 - 0 comments
Monday 28th August 2006
Blair: Counter-Boardgame Tactics
We can only assume that Tony Blair and top aides within the government are worried about the impending launch of the War on Terror, the boardgame.
Only weeks after we announce that we've sent the game to print, whilst addressing the World Affairs Council in Los Angeles, Blair referred to an 'arc of extremism' knowing only too well that the phrase 'Axis of Evil' is used throughout our game.
"The prime minister said: 'There is an arc of extremism now stretching across the Middle East and touching countries far outside that region'." [BBC News - 2 August 2006]
The British government appears to have learnt from the tactics of George W. Bush, who attempted to re-brand the 'War on Terror' as the 'Long War' soon after we finished the box design.
We have also heard from an anonymous informant that there are plans underway to try and move away from the term 'liberation' and instead use 'expropriation' to describe UK foreign policy.
- posted by TerrorBull Games on 28 August 2006 - 0 comments
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