If Gandhi Wielded a Joystick

By Lauren Barack -- School Library Journal, 6/1/2006

The video game A Force More Powerful (AFMP) may lack the adrenaline rush of, say, Grand Theft Auto, but if played correctly, its players could acquire skills more potent than a loaded AK-47.

Born from the 2000 film series of the same name that aired on PBS, the video game is the invention of film-producing house York Zimmerman, which created the popular documentary that focused on nonviolent struggles throughout history. The film’s success encouraged the producers to try and find another vehicle to get their message of nonviolence to a broader audience—especially young people. “We try to teach youth that they are a lot more empowered than they think,” says Miriam Zimmerman, managing producer of York Zimmerman.

Ivan Marovic, a member of Otpor, the Serbian resistance movement that helped oust President Slobodan Milosevic and who had worked with the filmmakers in Serbia, turned out to be a gaming expert and helped York Zimmerman conceive and build the video game’s prototype with developer BreakAway Games.

The AFMP player assumes the role of a nonviolent coordinator, the computer the oppressive regime. You win by using nonviolent methods persuade more and more people to join your side until the regime is removed from power. All the situations in the game are based on real historical events. But a scenario editor lets users tailor the situation to their own personal environment. Students who want to protest a mall being built on local wetlands, for example, can scan in maps of the area, or even import financials from a land deal to help them explore actual scenarios.

Released in February 2006, the PC-based game can be purchased online for $19.95, although educational groups who buy 10 or more get them at nearly half off (www.aforcemorepowerful.org/game).