Eddie: Yes, Liberate Hong Kong reconstructs the fierce street protests, with roadblocks, fire, tear gas, and riot police in the virtual world. Navigating through the chaotic scene, you could be hurt or arrested through just a small hesitation or mistake. The interactive visual novel The Revolution of Our Times I presents players with the same set of difficult decisions that protestors face in the real world. One wrong choice, and you lose—not just the campaign, but also your relationships and employment. The first time I played, I got a ‘game over’ just because I admitted my protest participation to my boss. He reported the case to the police, and I was arrested. Having your opinion heard was never that costly in the past.

Hugh: I’m so impressed by how these game developers attempt to capture the challenging physical and emotional landscape of the city at present—and in a very gameful way. By confronting players with difficult and impactful decisions, they convey some of the complexity of the situation. Video games have become a notable characteristic of the protests, from the Pokémon Go demonstrations to the Blizzard / Blitzchung controversy, as well as these two recent protest games.

Eddie: Like many in Hong Kong and around the world, I hope that the city will soon return to a state of safety, openness, and fairness. Only then will people have the environment, time, and energy to discuss innovative ideas and contribute to quality artworks. I am looking forward to enhanced versions of these games that cover more events and characters. They would be valuable historical records for both video games and Hong Kong.

Hugh: Liberate Hong Kong seems to closely depict the actual streetscapes of the city. What are some of the other visually accurate representations of Hong Kong in game spaces that you are aware of?

Eddie: People have different impressions of Hong Kong, so it’s very subjective. For me, the city is composed of small but familiar details, such as road signs, vehicles, and storefronts that, taken together, form familiar street views distinct to this city. Developments in game technology over the past twenty years have allowed these details to be lovingly reproduced in the virtual world. Games like Gran Turismo 4 (2004), Kung Fu Rider (2010), Sleeping Dogs (2012), and Resident Evil 6 (2013) have done a great job of recreating them. When I play these games, I feel like I’m navigating the real Hong Kong.