Where in the World is ...

[jeregenest]

Espionage (and its ilk) tend to be a genre that calls out for far-flung locations, even shows that are purportedly set in one country or city tend to reach out for different locations as much as possible (and the exceptions stand out for this. In TV one sees a tendency for “place of the week”. This is, one of the things that make espionage different from other forms of mysteries.

One of the many reasons for this is that the development of a coherent and richly symbolic world can carry a major part of the thematic burden of the game, while not overshadowing action and character. The best way to do this is through the careful repetition of certain set characteristics. As this is game played in the realm of geopolitics, it makes sense that the structural road map of game will be drawn by geography. However, to get that locus of action you also need to avoid constant change, stretching the plot out to represent the entire globe can leave things a little thin. The “place of the week” format can be problematic.

It is for this reason I like to focus in on a few different places. As I discussed in theme, I want to capture the horror of the modern world. Looking in the news I see three things that stand out for me: areas of ethnic tensions, economic volatility and empires in decline.

What countries stand out? There is Somalia’s endless anarchy including the plague of piracy. Russia’s new brand of aggression. Mexico’s drug-war-fueled misery. The Middle East, and Iran deserve continual mention. The governments in Kabul and Islamabad are two of the weakest anywhere. Among the biggest risks the world faces this year is that one or both will break down amid escalating violence Indonesia, Thailand, and Turkey, where there are already signs that the economic crisis is exacerbating domestic political conflicts. And let us not forget the renewed civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (source of much of the weirdness the last time I ran this game), the continuing violence in Sudan’s Darfur region, and the heart of darkness that is Zimbabwe under President Robert Mugabe.

That’s a lot of choices. Well the Congo is a given, Mexico is sweet, and Russia is just too important thematically linking everything together. After that, we shall see.

And while the scale of this game is global, don’t forget the homefront, because paranoia and government craziness are a large part of the mix. It starts and ends in Washington DC. And there’s always the threat that foreign investors could start demanding higher yields on the bonds they buy from the United States or simply begin dumping dollars in exchange for other currencies.

Maybe I should call this game the Age of Upheaval.