One of the interesting things about Global Conflicts is the chance for the player to become part of the action, even if not directly. For example, the player witnesses multiple suicide attacks, one that results in a personal tragedy (not to be revealed here).

I played Global Conflicts: Palestine from start to finish three times. In order to test the limits of the game, in each one I attempted to sabotage the reporter’s career by ruining his reputation, placing him in dangerous scenarios and selecting James Bond-type responses to ensure maximum irritation on the part of interviewees, then trying to resurrect my standing. What I discovered was that it was virtually impossible to be unsuccessful in source cultivation. That is probably because the game is really meant more for an educational audience than a recreational one.

While for most this will be considered a slow-playing game, as a graduate student in political science, I applaud the architects of this game in their incorporation of real-life scenarios into the storyline. The developers clearly did their homework, and did not impose stereotypes or anachronistic dialogue, which is easy to do in a game that tries to tackle a contemporary subject as complicated as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The characters have appropriate mindsets based on their backgrounds, and don’t exaggerate in an unnecessary or unrealistic way.

What makes this game difficult is the intellectual challenge of constructing a well-researched, relevant article appropriate for the audience sought. Since you can only carry a limited number of quotations in your notebook at a time, the selective incorporation of quotations from the various interviewees make the possibilities for resulting articles fairly large, so you'll constantly be assessing your information and weighing its importance to your feature. The game rewards those who try to make the most of each mission. The player’s experience score will increase and his standing in the community will remain mostly constant. Articles that show depth and experience with an implied hint of controversy garner respect (even grudgingly so) from each side, regardless of which paper to which it is submitted.

However, it is possible to go through each mission quickly. All one needs is the minimum number of quotations, and a few cursory interviews on each side. The player could select a single paper to write for, continually write heavily biased stories, and find that his standing in each community would remain steady. Yet doing so makes it difficult to cultivate insightful interviews if people think all you do is write incendiary propaganda pieces. Players that do this kind of superficial research and don't seek out tough-to-find sources, or make thoughtful decisions on which quotations and photos to incorporate, will find their articles buried on page 7 or 8. While this has little effect on the overall outcome of the game, it does affect the player’s ability to improve their experience level.

Global Conflicts: Palestine is available now for purchase on the Serious Games website. It can be purchased as a digital download or as a physical copy, priced accordingly. Fortunately for a game as unique as this one, a playable demo is also offered, giving players the chance to try it first. For obvious reasons, the people most likely to be interested in the game will be those attracted to the subject matter, and those people should also check out the educational companion website.

Players who decide to pick up Global Conflicts: Palestine should be reminded that this is not a traditional adventure game with the usual emphasis on puzzles and exploration, but more of a simulation in which the puzzle itself is in seeking out and crafting relevant articles. As a current events title that tackles a difficult topic, it does so with intelligence and style, and an open-mindedness towards the various cultural elements involved in the Middle East. By presenting multiple sides of the same issues and leaving the choices up to the player, the game succeeds at creating awareness and hopefully promoting a deeper understanding. The rather sedate pace and singleminded gameplay means this is a title that will have a limited appeal, but for anyone with an interest in the topic or a desire to try something new, Global Conflicts: Palestine may just be worth a look.