Not for Broadcast
Not for Broadcast
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this game.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Not For Broadcast is a downloadable full-motion video (meaning it features actual actors) simulation game available for Windows PC. The player takes the role of a studio director overseeing the broadcasts of a national news station, and they’re tasked with making sure the broadcast goes smoothly. By switching between different screens, censoring incoming profanity, and making sure no video or audio-based interferences disrupt the broadcast, players will have full control of what's shown to the public and can influence the general perception of certain social or governmental issues. While the game leans heavily on satire and humor, it also touches upon many real-world issues—covering topics such as classism, celebrity culture, the correctional system and how it affects disadvantaged minorities, governmental control, and the power of the media toward the general public. The player will be put into the position of deciding the fates of many people, institutions, and companies. The game features a lot of cursing, a few instances of pixelated nudity and sexual innuendos, and contains depictions of violence that can be harsh—even deeply disturbing.
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Politics are complicated.
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What’s It About?
In NOT FOR BROADCAST, Advance, an independent party, has just won a crucial landslide election, becoming the new elected officials of the country. Represented by a lawyer and a former TV personality, they promise to bring about equality by redistributing the wealth of the rich to those who are less financially fortunate. Initially, people fail to take the eccentric duo seriously, but after Advance passes a bill that enforces exactly what they promised, people are forced to take notice. For some, the shift is welcome, giving them new opportunities and grants to pursue their dreams. For others, they feel slighted as they believe that Advance has no right to take their wealth simply because they have a surplus of it. People look to the news to get a feel on what it all means, and that’s where you come in. As a part of the most influential news outlet in the country, people come onto your platform to give their opinion. News will break as people react—positively and negatively—to the developing stories, and soon, it becomes clear that Advance may have bigger goals and ambitions than they originally outlined. Behind the controls, you have the power to sway public opinion and get people to see celebrities, companies, and even Advance itself in a different light. In a world of hidden objectives and self-serving motives, how will you use your broadcasts to shape the nation?
Is It Any Good?
In the realm of video games, the sentiment of “I don’t want politics in my games -- I just want them to be fun!” tends to come up quite frequently. Not For Broadcast takes the usual trappings of politics and creates an engaging, funny, scary story from it. There’s never a dull moment -- if there’s not an outrageous guest being interviewed, there’s an existential musical number going on. You can even watch the broadcasts you edit afterwards from start to finish, which is satisfying and allows you to get more insight into your co-workers and how they feel about current events, no matter how absurd they might be. When you aren’t leading the production of the broadcasts, you’re given text-based Choose Your Own Adventure-style situations with your family where you’ll have to make crucial decisions on what’s best for your children, spend time with your partner, build up money so that you can live in relative peace, and react to the world around you as it changes -- all results of your broadcasting choices.
Beneath the sheer absurdity of the game are layers of purposeful storytelling. Depending on the decisions you make, Advance can accomplish much more, or you can turn the public against them. Each playthrough has its nuances and differences, leading to entirely different scenes and scenarios. It’s up to the player to decide if certain ends justify the means, but the most amazing thing about the game is that nothing's quite black and white. It leaves it up to the player to decide whether Advance is wrong or not and act accordingly. And when an opposing group rises to try and overthrow Advance, their motives and methods can also go to some questionable, grey areas. This is a game that’s sure to strike certain chords in anyone who plays it, good or bad, but it's also the perfect showcase of what a video game is capable of as a true piece of art. Not For Broadcast is a brave, heavy-hitting experience that will stick with you long after the credits have rolled.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the impact that the news media has on the public, which is a core theme of Not For Broadcast. Do you think those who handle the news change the context of a story to make something look better or worse than it really is? Why would the people in charge of such things do that? Are there ways to make sure that all stories the news covers stay as objective as possible?
If you have a set goal in mind, is it okay to do whatever it takes to accomplish that goal no matter how harsh the actions? What if that means a few people get hurt along the way? Whose job is it to make sure that everyone in a society is “equal”? What does that “equality” look like? What steps should be taken to get there?
Game Details
- Platform: Windows
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: tinyBuild
- Release date: January 25, 2022
- Genre: Simulation
- ESRB rating: NR
- Last updated: February 9, 2022
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