author: Luc
Communism in Video Games: absurdity, Controversies and Propaganda
We are pretty much used to certain way Nazism is shown in video games. What about communism and Stalinism? How was the sinister system depicted throughout the years?
Table of Contents
- Communism in Video Games: absurdity, Controversies and Propaganda
- We can all be Zhukovs
- Smile tovarishch, smile!
- The bad, the ugly, and the cruel
Smile tovarishch, smile!
The third category seems even more absurd. Obviously, it is the image that is supposed to be funny. Keeping in mind how many have lost their lives because of Stalin and the USSR administration, it hardly seems appropriate. The first example that comes to mind is the Command & Conquer: Red Alert series. Apart from the splendid quality of (almost) all entries in the series, one can hardly argue with the statement that the vision of the communists present was, putting it mildly, far from the truth. Since the first game, the communists constantly try to take over the world, however seeing their command it is hard not to be under the impression that they are the least qualified people to do so. While the first game’s cutscenes, being no entirely devoid of eccentric moments, have maintained a certain level of seriousness, it seems that in the third installment the designers were entirely focused on making the communist the most comical people on the planet.
The murderous dictator as humanity’s savior? Such a bizarre idea can be found in Stalin vs. Martians.
If a ridiculous Cherdenko with his comical accent isn’t enough, additionally we also got the sexy Dasha Fedorovich, trying to be professional general Krukov and a ton of other stereotypes, including a Russian’s unstoppable love for vodka. Honestly, the only thing missing is bear cavalry. All of this is corresponding with a certain kitsch esthetics of the games, being a trademark of the series, but at the same time duplicating the droll communist image.
By the way, the Red Alert series isn’t the only one with a lampoon approach. An image of ‘papa Stalin’ has been seen before in games such as Civilization. It’s up to us what will we do due while ruling the Russians, but the fact that every minute we are met with Jugashvili’s smile, is a great breach of a certain etiquette. To make matters ‘funnier’, in the next installments we get to control China as Mao Zedong himself. The leader of the Chinese Revolution and his Communist Party of China have a few dozen million victims under their belt (more than the rest of the totalitarian leaders of 20-th century all together) it apparently wasn’t a good enough reason not to depict Mao as a kind elder. The creators claim that omitting such distinguished people in certain nations history as Mao or Stalin was impossible in a game like Civilization – which is not the most believable explanation. In a similar fashion, Adolf Hitler could have been implemented in the game, but naturally, no one would dare to do so – and certainly not like the communist leaders of China and USSR.