IRL Political issues in GalCiv

from Stardock Forums
This could be a thread to discuss IRL ideology and politics in GalCiv (and other TBS).

I found some issues in GalCiv that are really cool. Like including slavery as an option, like some big empire cunquering a small one and setting up a "provisional government" there afterwards.... ;-) This is such a relief after games like Freelancer or C&C Generals, that seems bribed by CIA or someone, to teach everyone the right way of life, and justify current politics. I think games can really affect the way I think about politics. After starting with TBS, I seem to understand more why the world is like it is, and a game like GalCiv clearly has a political statement built in. Like when it pays of more to build a GNN than an embassy...;-) But then again, if you are very pro-imperialistic IRL then perhaps you are as put of by GalCiv as I am by Freelancer (I cant really continue playeing the game, stomping out the rebel civilization that crashed into our proud mothership of intergalactic trade...).

Sometimes, playing computer gamnes can be hard on your morale....

/P M

/P M
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Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
You can learn a lot more if you go to the library and read some books about post-WWII world history. Preferably books published during the past couple of years that utilize information obtained through the Freedom of Information Act and recently declassified CIA/NSA files.

You'll find a whole lot of mind-blowing stuff that was never reported on TV news or newspapers because it was declassified 30 years after it happened and people just don't care about stuff that happened 30 years ago. I guess that's also why we are doomed to repeat history, even into the 23rd century, heh.

I'm not so sure that US foreign policy during the cold war would earn us a 'good' rating in GalCiv. Lots of bad ideas on top of good intentions.

As far as our policy more recently? Jury is still out on that, because most of it is going to remain classified for many years.

Putting that kind of stuff into GalCiv would be extremely cool. Like an evil plot to wage terrorist acts against your own people in an effort to frame a foreign power so you can start a war. (A plan actually approved by the Joint Chiefs of Staff but never actually executed. This was back before the Bay of Pigs fiasco, when Cuba was the 'Iraq' of the day.)

Or, having an ally shoot and kill one of your own ships and get away with it. Like Israel did to the USS Liberty during the 1967 war. This was a highly-secret event that was successfully covered up for decades. Not sure how something like this could be implemented in GalCiv, but apparently if you're 'good buddies' enough with another nation it is possible to purposely kill their ships and get away with it. Possibly if war is deemed 'not in our best interest at this time' then you can have the governments involved agree to cover-up the incident to prevent a war from occurring.
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Hmm, as for current politics, I dunno, but when I find out someone is destabilizing my civ, I typically bomb the crap out of them. :)

~SDC~
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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Yeah, thats whats so cool. You really understand why things are happeing IRL. Naturally I bomb the destabilizers, and naturally I build a 5000 channel entertainment network, because then I can crank of the production a bit more without anyone complaining! These are some of the best things about GalCiv, It seems so realistic in what gives credit in what areas...;-) And its also humoristic in an ironic, it makes me smile to notice these things in the game.

Also, the idea of allowing some dirty tricks from real life is really cool. You could for example support an unknown painter as the "new wave" to get more cultural cred in tyhe galaxy (CIA did this with Jackson Pollock in the 50-s, or so they say), etc, etc.

/P M
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Well, if real Earth was a Galciv game, then I think the USA is well on its way towards a cultural victory. Afterall, litter enough foreign cities with McDonalds, Levis, and rap music and it does add up. But, it's not like this was any intentional government plan to promote US values abroad, just some aggressive capitalists seeking out and exploiting new markets.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
The cover up on the USS Liberty was to cover LBJ's ass. He called back the air cover that would have prevented the second attack which killed 50 (IIRC) people.
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
"Well, if real Earth was a Galciv game, then I think the USA is well on its way towards a cultural victory."

Hmmm okay, but what are the 'minor races' :D ?

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
All those not present in Civ3, I think! ;)
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
I thought that those rules had already been made. The minor races do not have permanent seats on the UN Security Council! Maybe it is time to rethink the rules of a body created in the political climate during the reconstruction after WWII...
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
...Freelancer (I cant really continue playeing the game, stomping out the rebel civilization that crashed into our proud mothership of intergalactic trade...).

I can definitely tell that you haven’t played very far into the game. :) Continue playing, trust me, the situation you're in will change. :)