Bad News Review

Posted: 5 months ago.

Overview

Bad News is a role-play game about building a news media organisation. It's designed to highlight bias in the news by putting you in charge of a series of decisions to build a profitable company. All you do is answer questions, but as you do the implications of what you share on line are seen in your readers responses.

It's a game that aims to help combat disinformation by fostering critical and well-informed news consumers. In the game you can earn a series of badges that are signs of your progress. This encourages you to use Impersonation, Emotive stories, Polarisation, Conspiracy, Discrediting and Trolling to earn prestige and follows. As you do, you see first hand the effect on your readership.

You play Bad News in your web browser. You can play a Junior version for younger players. There are information sheets that offer details, background and additional information about the game.

Game Details

Expected Content Rating: PEGI 12

Release Date: 01/12/2019

Price: Free

Platforms: Web

Genres: Narrative, Role-Playing and Simulation

Developer: @GetBadNews

Lists

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Commitment

Duration: This game will take between half an hour and 45 minutes to complete.

Players: This is a single player game.

Costs

Bad News

Web

Free

–

This game is free to play. Does not offer in-game purchases, 'loot boxes' or 'battle/season passes'.

Age Ratings

The game was written to be suitable for people age 14 and up. It contains some potentially emotionally charged content, such as information on a fictional plane crash, as well as existing conspiracy theories that might be considered jarring. The game does not employ violent imagery, swear words or other offensive language. However, since players are prompted to take on the role of the ‘villain’, they might experience some mild psychological discomfort about the decisions that the game pressures them into making. However, since the game takes place entirely in a virtual environment that does not affect the real online landscape, such discomfort should hopefully remain limited.

The special Junior version of Bad News is intended for children age 8-11.

This game has not yet been rated, but we anticipate it is likely to be rated PEGI 12.

This game has not yet been rated, but we anticipate it is likely to be rated ESRB TEEN.

Accessibility

We haven't recorded accessibility settings for this game yet. Our Bad News Accessibility Report details system-wide settings that may help, and suggests similar games with accessibility features. Tweet the developer (@GetBadNews) to let them know about our Accessibility Questionnaire.

Games Like Bad News

Our experts have hand-picked the following similar games for you. These offer a similar way to play to Bad News or are games with a similar theme or topic. These are good alternative games to Bad News, or are a younger rated alternative for players not ready for PEGI 12 or ESRB TEEN games.

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