XBL Community Game Mixes Platform Action, Puzzles and Politics

April 30, 2009

We're intrigued by Clover, a nearly-done Xbox Live Community game which its creator says was heavily influenced by the prelude to the war in Iraq.

While we don't want to give too much away, Deejay, who heads Binary Tweed, added:

The game is loaded with references to speeches by George W. Bush and Tony Blair, as well as references to World War II and September 11th...

Clover is set in a pseudo-Tudor monarchy with a welfare state, experiencing increased security measures after an act of foreign aggression, in which the lead character's mother has died.

To make things just a bit more interesting, the Clover web site has apparently been viewed by both the Central Intelligence Agency and the United States Army Information Systems Command.

That's a bit spooky...

While no official launch date has been set, Clover should be available in early May for 400 XBL points.

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Comments

Re: XBL Community Game Mixes Platform Action, Puzzles and ...

Submitted by AgonThalia on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 12:00.

While it's interesting to see the CIA and the USAISC looking into that game, there are a few points to consider before breaking out the aluminum foil hats.

1: Both agencies monitor massive amounts of data and routinely monitor the web "chatter".

2: Knowing a lot of intelligence type people, they have a high concentration of geeks & tech nerds in their ranks. While most of the army has very restricted "approved only sites" web surfing priveledges, intel type agencies have a much larger range of sites they can visit on their network for research. This could be one of those geeks using a government computer to look at that game info.

3: Without knowing the total traffic of the site, 1 hit doesn't make me too nervous. My old blog used to get hits from all sorts of government agencies. It could be the fact that I have friends in the Gov, or it could be routine algorithmic based keword searches.

4: Lastly, this analytics screenshot doesn't show if it's a bot or a user.

Yep, I'm a skeptic about this, there seems to be no pattern or trend to suggest any weirdness.

http://wetonstun.com My blog about the intersection video games, marketing and culture.

Re: XBL Community Game Mixes Platform Action, Puzzles and ...

Submitted by chadachada321 on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 18:28.

"keyword searches" you say? I could probably get the FBI to look at this site using a few choice words. Bomb, terrorist, down with America...the list goes on. Oh snap, there's a knock on my door, and a white van outside my house!

-If an apple a day keeps the doctor away....what happens when a doctor eats an apple?-

-Optimum est pati quod emendare non possis-It is best to endure what you cannot change-

Re: XBL Community Game Mixes Platform Action, Puzzles and ...

Submitted by Stealthguy on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 20:47.

Run man, ru

Re: XBL Community Game Mixes Platform Action, Puzzles and

Submitted by killatia on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 11:52.

"To make things just a bit more interesting, the Clover web site has apparently been viewed by both the Central Intelligence Agency and the United States Army Information Systems Command."

Damn. You know you have a hot item game when the goverment is looking at the development of this game.

http://www.magicinkgaming.com/

Shout box

Andrew Eisen: Okay, fixed. For really reals this time!06/19/2013 - 12:42am

Sleaker: @AE The actual link to the pay what you want is www.indiegamestand.com not desura. You seem to infer where it's at but never posted a link.06/19/2013 - 12:01am

Andrew Eisen: LEGO: The Movie! www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPnY2NjSjrg06/18/2013 - 9:39pm

Zen: http://www.airforcetimes.com/article/20130614/OFFDUTY02/306140030/New-Xbox-sin-against-all-service-members-06/18/2013 - 7:33pm

Zen: Been out for a few days, but has anyone brought up the possible ban on Xbox One on military bases because of security concerns that it could be a listening device by Commanders?06/18/2013 - 7:33pm

Andrew Eisen: Sleaker - Fixed.06/18/2013 - 6:34pm

MechaTama31: CMiner: Another issue is that every camera/webcam combination is going to be pretty different, in terms of the software/hardware exploits available. A homogenous hardware/software combo like a console, in millions of homes, will be a much juicier target.06/18/2013 - 6:31pm

Sleaker: Vox pay what you want link is busted.06/18/2013 - 6:27pm

ZippyDSMlee: Mics have to breath put tape over it.06/18/2013 - 6:25pm

NyuRena: You nailed it James! Yikes..06/18/2013 - 1:56pm

james_fudge: With MS willing to share with the government, an always listening device should give everyone pause.06/18/2013 - 1:37pm

james_fudge: you can't turn off the Microphone on the Kinect and it has to be plugged in. It's not rocket science.06/18/2013 - 1:35pm

E. Zachary Knight: The Humble Bundle Guys just don't like me having money in my pocket do they? https://www.humblebundle.com/06/18/2013 - 1:12pm

E. Zachary Knight: CMiner, I know that my Android camera is off unless I am using an application that turns it on. Same with the microphone.06/18/2013 - 12:38pm

CMiner: Can you turn off the camera on an iPhone? Like, -really- turn it off, not just change a setting that -tells- you the camera is off?06/18/2013 - 12:13pm

james_fudge: when they make it a requirement, yes they are06/18/2013 - 12:10pm

CMiner: I just don't think Microsoft bears any more (or less) responsibility for privacy with its Kinect camera than do the makers of laptops or smartphones with integrated cameras.06/18/2013 - 12:00pm

Imautobot: The ability to operate the console without the camera is key. It's a peripheral, not directly integrated into the console, and yet it behaves as if it is. Thankfully I don't have kids, and won't have an Xbone either.06/18/2013 - 11:49am

CMiner: Oh, I agree that the decision to make the kinect mandatory/always listening is terrible.06/18/2013 - 11:48am

E. Zachary Knight: CMiner, and the easier the provider makes to do such things, the better. The fact that the XBone will not even funtion without it plugged in and turned on in some fashion makes a world of difference from a PC Webcam.06/18/2013 - 11:38am

All shouts

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