The White House has released a series of policy-themed arcade games that appear to be modeled on well-known commercial titles, prompting a response from at least one of the copyright holders whose games served as inspiration.
One of the games, called “Build the Wall,” closely resembles the classic puzzle game Tetris. Players stack interlocking shapes to block what the game describes as a “zombie border siege” along the southern border, with figures the administration refers to as “aliens” running across the screen toward the United States.
Tetris Company Responds
The Tetris Company confirmed it had no involvement in the creation of the game. In a statement, spokesperson Kerri Brusca said the company was not part of the project. “For more than 40 years, Tetris has brought people together across generations and cultures through play and joy. The objective of the game has always been to stack with purpose to clear as many lines as possible,” Brusca said, adding that the company is “currently reviewing the matter.”
Other brands referenced in the games and their promotion include Sega, Nintendo, Xbox, and the Flappy Bird Foundation Group. Those companies did not immediately provide comment. The administration has faced similar issues before: the Department of Homeland Security previously deleted several posts after receiving DMCA takedown requests.
The Games and the Policies
The lineup includes several titles that echo established games. “Rio Run” plays like Snake, with a Border Patrol agent collecting migrants as it moves across the screen. “Flappy Bill,” a take on Flappy Bird, tasks players with guiding a bald eagle to deliver legislation to the National Mall.
A third game, “Supply Line,” resembles the arcade title Tapper and involves knocking processed foods containing additives, seed oils, and artificial colorings off a conveyor belt before they reach schoolchildren.
The games touch on policy areas that have drawn opposition. Efforts to build a border wall through protected lands in the Southwest, including Big Bend National Park, have faced significant pushback, including from Republicans in Texas. The administration has also rolled back protections under the Endangered Species Act, the law that helped bring bald eagles back from near extinction, and its proposed changes to the National Mall have been unpopular.
On food policy, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has focused largely on rolling back vaccine recommendations and food safety measures, along with issuing a report for his Make America Healthy Again commission.
Source
Image: theverge.com
