Interesting article on Kotaku about Prison Architect

[dominicbrookmiller]

http://kotaku.com/what-to-do-with-priso ... 1505204131

What do you think to this. Rather a harsh critique and perhaps unrealistic expectations of an unreleased game.

Dom

[xander]

Overall, a rather insightful article. There are a couple of points that bear some comment (or, at least, repeating):

Moreover, other types of feedback could be implemented: hunger strikes, self harm, human rights and federal inspectors examining the facility, can add variety and extra level of challenge.

Inspectors have been mentioned here before, but I do not recall hunger strikes or self harm ever having been mentioned. I think that these would be mechanically interesting additions to the game, and, as noted in the article, would provide another avenue for feedback (instead of violent riots).

Solitary cells don't have any structural requirement in Prison Architect but the measure appears to kick in automatically, every time an inmate assaults staff or other prisoners— which is basically all the time. It would be hypocritical to not include a such a widespread measure in a prison simulation, but making it automatic and somewhat effective is a problematic choice.

I don't know if this is a problem with the default setting or that the reviewer simply didn't notice that punishments can be handled differently. If the latter, it indicates that the ability to change punishments should be emphasized in any future tutorial.

In the world of Prison Architect, there is almost no trace of drug offenses. All inmates have a randomly generated criminal record and distinct features, including racial features which, according to the designers, are linked to gang affiliation and disorderly conduct. However, most of the prisoners are convicted of violent crimes, and even among minimum security level inmates, possession charges are incredibly rare. It could be that the randomness is not weighted. That is, each type of crime may have the same chance of being drawn.

This is an excellent point.

xander

[More_Badass]

I like this suggestion from the article

Prison Architect could gain a lot of depth, replay value, and sense of purpose by implementing meaningful links with the external world. Laws could change affecting the number and type of inmates. Players could hire a lobbyist to push for new grants and policies to increase incarceration (yes, this is happening too). They could even have the option to bribe judges to funnel more delinquents to their establishment

[wUndertUnge]

This was a great article. He is fully aware that this game isn't fully released, but with each Alpha getting us a step closer to a complete game, it's important that people point these things out. Isn't that the point of the Alpha?

On the one hand, PA is quite tongue-in-cheek; on the other hand, this is a sensitive topic and also a great opportunity, as the article mentions. It can be both fun and educational. Not sure what the goals of Delay and Co are, but it seems like they'd like to make the best game possible.

When I first started playing, I took note of how each individual Prisoner was given a name and a rap sheet, while everyone else on the staff was basically generic or non-individualized. You had control over everyone else, but not the prisoners. With Name in the Game, there's more in the design suggesting more individuality over the prisoners and a desire to identify with them a bit. Not sure what other steps can be taken to move in that direction, but when I sadistically tried locking a guy up for days then weeks, it was strange to me that the AI and stats didn't account for individual torture. Because all of my other prisoners were happy, so was this one guy. Seems like an incongruity.

While I played this game a lot in the beginning, it just hasn't kept my interest all that much. Not sure if the campaign will remedy this, or maybe I'm just not that into sims.

Also, I should mention that I did watch the documentary "The House I Live In" that was mentioned in the article. It was a downer, but so important. One thing that really struck me, though, is the entire Prison as an Industry complex that we have in America. So much of our economy is built on having not only prisons, but full prisons. It's the same fear that old school energy companies have of going clean. The only way to keep making money is to keep the prisons full, something that people in the prison business are fully aware of, and something (I think) this game is trying to point out just through the gameplay.

[Citizen]

The author of that article is an idiot. In The Majority of that article the author states his political and social points of view, and in several cases misstating or makes up facts about the law. So yeah 80% of what I read is social commentary and about 10% is salvageable feedback regarding game.

That article is more of an op-ed than a preview/review of a game in alpha.

[wUndertUnge]

and in several cases misstating or makes up facts about the law

Like what?

[Citizen]

To be honest it's not even worth my time to type it all out. The author needs an editor or the very least a conscience.

[wUndertUnge]

To be honest it's not even worth my time to type it all out. The author needs an editor or the very least a conscience.

Well if it's not worth the time to type it out, then it's not worth anyone's time to take you seriously. I smell bias here. Are you trying to say that there's nothing wrong with the prison system in the US, specifically the way that drug sentencing happens and what is mandated?

[xander]

The author of that article is an idiot.

Mr. Pot, please meet Mr. Kettle.

xander

[knoest26]

The author of that article is an idiot.

Mr. Pot, please meet Mr. Kettle.

Doesn't sound like the nicest thing to say to someone who is trying to make a sketchy point.

I guess the article is more of an opinion column than a review, Although I still think his arguments are farfetched and aren't support properly.

[xander]

Doesn't sound like the nicest thing to say to someone who is trying to make a sketchy point.

He didn't make a point. He called the author of the article an idiot, then gave no justification for that opinion.

I guess the article is more of an opinion column than a review, Although I still think his arguments are farfetched and aren't support properly.

When a critic considers any work (a film, a book, or a video game, for instance), consideration should include the social context of the work. This is particularly important when the work in question deals with a controversial topic, such as prisons. If you disagree with the opinion of the reviewer, that's great. But please, if you are going to engage in the debate, support your opinion. Provide some evidence.

xander

[knoest26]

I need to do some research on his arguments before I can validate them, I don't feel like doing that research.

That's why I said he made a sketchy point, he was onto something, he just didn't do it the right way. I was missing the proper word for it there and decided sketchy was good enough

[xander]

I need to do some research on his arguments before I can validate them, I don't feel like doing that research.

That's the point. It is incumbent upon him to provide evidence of his claims. It is not the responsibility of the reader to fill in the gaps. That is the job of the person making the claims in the first place.

That's why I said he made a sketchy point, he was onto something, he just didn't do it the right way. I was missing the proper word for it there and decided sketchy was good enough

There is no way of knowing if he is on to anything or not. He provided no supporting evidence for his claims. There is nothing there except name calling.

xander

[Citizen]

Listen Xander, If I say gypsies in France rape dogs, and then post a bunch crazy-ass links claiming that other dogs have also been sexually abused by gypsies. And that the French government knows, and not only does nothing, but supports these brutal canine rapes - does that make it so?

That joke of an article is clearly way, way left. It's supported by links to a slew of cooky, radical websites to support is "review of Prison Architect". Ya the US Government purposely targets black kids and then locks up those minors in prison. 60% of the black population is in jail. Further evidence of the EVIL know as the US can be viewed an a TV show that is available on Netflix!

I know your anus is in a wad and you want to be opposite of whatever side I'm on, but even you can't be this foolish, can you? Maybe X is the author? I don't know. I'm sure he is lurking nearby.

[xander]

--==<snip>==--

More dismissive ad hominem without actually identifying any of the claims that you think are incorrect, no citations to back yourself up with, and a bad analogy. I take it that you have nothing of substance to contribute?

xander