“Human Nature” debatebros when I inform them that what’s considered “Human Nature” changes alongside Mode of Production:
Fallout has always been Anticapitalist, but unfortunately never commits. New Vegas is the closest, the more based factions are socialist and the 2 main sides are fascism or declining Imperialism, but there’s no true Socialist options other than headcanon with Yes Man.
but there’s no true Socialist options other than headcanon with Yes Man.
In my mind, that’s the dividing line between toothless anticapitalist media and actual anticapitalist media: whether it portrays an alternative to capitalism as both possible and desirable. Not surprisingly, there’s a whole lot more of the former than the latter.
Outer Worlds is a massive example of this. It nails the aesthetic of corporate domination and capitalist oppression, but completely fails to properly advocate for a better alternative, beyond “capitalism but nice”. And it actively punishes you for taking more “radical” approaches, instead of seeking compromise with the oppressors like it wants you to.
I remember that the one anarchist companion is described as extremely childish and averse to books. Which would be funny in a game like DE, but since Outer Worlds defangs any real alternatives to capitalism, what could have been funny satire becomes text
“Human Nature” debatebros when I inform them that what’s considered “Human Nature” changes alongside Mode of Production:
Fallout has always been Anticapitalist, but unfortunately never commits. New Vegas is the closest, the more based factions are socialist and the 2 main sides are fascism or declining Imperialism, but there’s no true Socialist options other than headcanon with Yes Man.
In my mind, that’s the dividing line between toothless
anticapitalist media and actual anticapitalist media: whether it portrays an alternative to capitalism as both possible and desirable. Not surprisingly, there’s a whole lot more of the former than the latter.
Outer Worlds is a massive example of this. It nails the aesthetic of corporate domination and capitalist oppression, but completely fails to properly advocate for a better alternative, beyond “capitalism but nice”. And it actively punishes you for taking more “radical” approaches, instead of seeking compromise with the oppressors like it wants you to.
I remember that the one anarchist companion is described as extremely childish and averse to books. Which would be funny in a game like DE, but since Outer Worlds defangs any real alternatives to capitalism, what could have been funny satire becomes text
Me gunning down every person in Byzantium: “Wait, you didn’t want me to do this?”