Not For Broadcast

Not For Broadcast is a full motion propaganda simulator developed by British video game studio NotGames and published by tinyBuild. The game released with its first episode in early access on 30 January 2020, with the developers planning to eventually include a total of three episodes.[2][3][4]

Not For Broadcast
Developer(s)NotGames[1]
Publisher(s)tinyBuild
Director(s)Alex Paterson
Engine
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release30 January 2020
Genre(s)
Mode(s)Single-player

The game takes place in an unnamed European country (resembling the United Kingdom) in the mid-1980s,[lower-alpha 1] where a new far-left political party named Advance has won a surprise landslide election and begins to handle the country in an authoritarian dystopian fashion. The player takes the role of Alex Winston, a studio director in a national Television station, having to produce a live broadcast, play adverts, censor swear words, and avoid interference in an effort to keep the viewership high.[5]

On early access release, Not For Broadcast received positive reviews, with praise going to its gameplay and mechanics while being criticised for confusing political storytelling.

Gameplay

Broadcast days

The player is the person controlling how the news is broadcast. They have to decide which camera to use and what to show on screen. There are many things to pay attention to and many mechanics to function.

At the beginning of the day the player has to flip every switch on and choose three adverts. Some adverts matter to the story and some don't have any effect on the overall outcome. After these are done, they have to choose the adequate screen to broadcast and wait till the news start.

There are three segments each day with different layouts and challenges. It's the player's task to provide an enjoyable news broadcast and raise the viewers till the end of the program. If the player fails to do so and they lose a significant amount of viewing, it's game over. However, that is very difficult to do and it requires a ton of mistakes and inattention. Ratings can be increased through actions like improved editing and properly combating interference, while they can be decreased through actions like poorly timed advertisements or staying on a camera for too long.

After each segment, the game gives a grade and an opportunity to replay that segment. While an ad is playing, the player usually doesn't have to do anything, unless they decide to change the upcoming adverts. Sometimes they get a phone call with some additional information about next segments or circumstances. After the signal comes back, the player can choose the appropriate screen and resume playing normally.

At the end of each broadcast day, the player goes into the archives where there's an opportunity to check the broadcast, the rushes and the adverts out and watch them. This is optional and only 'obligatory' on the first day (it's in quotes because the player doesn't have to watch the entirety, they can quit after putting in the tape instantly).

Non-broadcast days

The protagonist has a life and family outside the broadcast room which has some dilemmas that need to be solved by the player. Choosing certain options matter to the family and they affect the dynamic and relationships. These are all in text as there are no cutscenes in the game (so far, but these don't really need cutscenes to be understood). Aside from family matters, the player also gets to interact with Advance through letters, choosing answers to questions and so on. These choices with Advance (so far) don't actually affect the story or the broadcast days.

Plot

The game is set in an alternate version of the 1980s, in a world physically identical to Earth but with different nations. The player character is Alex Winston, who works at the United Kingdom-analogue's largest television broadcaster, National Nightly News. Formerly a janitor, Alex is made studio director when their predecessor flees the country and Alex manages to edit the election night broadcast.

The story begins with the far-left political party Advance winning an unexpected victory. Advance implements a number of radical reforms such as wealth redistribution and nationalization of several large corporations. As time goes on, Advance becomes increasingly authoritarian in their governance. Additionally, the United Nations-analogue places harsh sanctions on the country, causing economic troubles. Alex must decide whether to paint Advance in a positive light on the news, or covertly promote the resistance group Disrupt.[6]

Development

The first episode of Not For Broadcast was released in Early Access on 30 January 2020, with the developers stating their intention to keep it in early access for approximately eighteen months while updating free new chapters.[7] Days before filming began for a second episode, the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom led to lockdowns which ceased all production. Instead of pausing production, the developers chose to create a bonus chapter titled Not For Broadcast: Lockdown, which contains a new storyline, with the cast being stuck at home "as they shelter from a rampaging horde of animatronic children's toys."[8][9] The chapter was released alongside a new challenge mode, featuring 4 different challenge variations.[10] Finally, a year after the original release, on 28 January 2021 a second episode was released, which showcased impacts of certain decisions in previous chapters and was released together with an hour-long documentary titled "Not for Broadcast: Lights, Camera, Lockdown," about how the development team behind the game reveals how they managed to produce two, video-filled updates of the game amidst a global pandemic.[11][12]

Reception

Not For Broadcast received generally positive reviews from critics in early access. The game was complimented for its innovative concept and gameplay, including the satirical over-the-top content video segments and the production control room mechanics.[13][14] Criticism went to its "on-the-nose political commentary," with Cass Marshall writing for Polygon "[the game is] laying it on pretty thick."[15][16] On Steam, the game has "overwhelmingly positive" user reviews.[7]

Notes
  1. Depending on the player's choices, it is possible for one character to die; later, his tombstone is shown, displaying the dates 1944-1985.

References
  1. "Satirical propaganda sim Not For Broadcast gets Episode 2 release date" (Press release). Games Press. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  2. Morton, Lauren (13 January 2020). "Not For Broadcast is a hectic dystopian TV simulator". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  3. Clayton, Natalie (1 February 2020). "Dystopian telly-wrangler Not For Broadcast is now live in early access". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  4. Marshall, Cass (10 March 2020). "You'll be able to tank careers for higher ratings in Not for Broadcast's updates". Polygon. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  5. Watts, Rachel (6 January 2020). "Manipulate the politics of a country in FMV game Not For Broadcast". PC Gamer. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  6. NotGames. "Not For Broadcast". TinyBuild, 2020.
  7. LeClair, Kyle (4 February 2020). "My Time as a Dystopian News Editor in Not For Broadcast". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  8. "Keep the news on air from home in Not For Broadcast: Lockdown, out now" (Press release). Games Press. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  9. Marshall, Cass (25 June 2020). "Not For Broadcast updates with the free Lockdown chapter". Polygon. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  10. Broadley, Logan (28 January 2021). "Not For Broadcast gets a massive new update with Episode 2". PC Invasion. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  11. Davis, Wes (29 January 2021). "Perpetuate Dystopia or Don't in Not For Broadcast - Episode 2". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  12. "Acclaimed Newsroom Sim Not For Broadcast Launches Biting New Chapter!". PC Game. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  13. "Not for Broadcast: un concept étonnant à peaufiner et perfectionner" [Not for Broadcast: an amazing concept to refine and perfect]. Jeuxvideo.com (in French). 26 February 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  14. Priestman, Chris (30 January 2020). "Not For Broadcast mixes '80s newsroom satire with Papers, Please". PC Gamer. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  15. Marshall, Cass (29 January 2020). "This high-pressure propaganda sim can't stop getting silly". Polygon. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  16. Hogarty, Steam (4 February 2020). "Premature Evaluation: Not For Broadcast". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.