escape escape unfinished point click adventure video game intended treatment detained asylum australia australian government attempt impose media detention centres game player assumes role iranian asylum held immigration reception processing centre request asylum denied fearing killed iranian government iran decides attempt escape explore speak individuals centre execute escape plan game developed team australian video game industry professionals investigative journalist engine developers received grant game project national attention idea received predominantly negative reception decision fund game drew condemnation minister immigration philip leader unable secure funding game developed playable prototype available free charge online plot escape opens screens text explain game background players assume role paid bring australia parents killed iranian secret police boat transporting crashed brought processing centre given identification number months informed request asylum denied repatriated iran believing tortured killed return decided escape game completed small portion intended gameplay exists playable segment conversations discovers planning escape needs pair attempt join work detail gain access hide garbage prevent found search recover night requires find way open area garbage cans stored deliver playable section ends delivers interactions playable section include speaking complaining guard threw copy ground mentions existence partially built tunnel previous escape attempt gameplay escape point click adventure game player controlling explores centre populated non player characters computer controlled individuals facility characters speak giving information facility sharing backgrounds experiences directing find retrieve objects scattered facility speaking characters completing tasks allows progress goal escaping facility game meter tracks hope completes tasks goal escaping meter increases listening experiences fellow cases required gain access information tasks drains hope caught breaking rules guards placed solitary confinement drains hope hope meter run loses ability continue attempt escape deported development idea video game centred asylum australia came developer melbourne studio aftermath tampa affair spent year half assembling team work game securing initial funding project fourteen people contributed game core development team australian members development team including contributed project anonymously protect jobs stated motivation project desire create video game asylum heroes purpose game according team wanted treatment detained asylum australia wanted prove video games capable task time idea video games convey political topics manner form culture worth taken seriously caught strongly game statement australian government attempts suppress media access coverage detention facilities original plan escape involved choices playable different story came seek asylum australia game players battle bureaucracy try survive day day working escape strategies originally envisioned players attempt escape legal channels lawyers activists attempt flee scaling fences digging tunnels development team worked create realistic depiction centre possible despite media allowed facility team utilised interviews activists existing press reports copy facility floor plan obtained member investigative journalist hired development team conduct research able visit processing centre witnessed guards helicopters awake night police horseback tents aside immigration detention centre influences details daily lives referred number communicating outside world incorporated game tasks players complete escape strategies based experiences real initial funding development escape came australian government arts funding organisation gave developers intended game developed point secure funding sources playable section game developed developers received additional funding playable demo built modification video game available download game website reception decision fund escape poorly received game received heavy criticism development began australia minister immigration philip released statement saying decision reflects poorly judgement organisation lend promotion unlawful behaviour interview recalled surprised strongly attacked game reaction attributed government sensitive issue treatment leader released strongly statement accusing game asylum criminals saying idea issues detention entertainment simply sick chairman branch granted development money defended decision fund escape stating game purpose promote crime characterised team application funding strong closely aligned goal promoting cross disciplinary media 2010s retrospective view escape significantly positive called important politically focused textbook alternative media handbook game case study culture early example video games carrying political message
Escape from Woomera