13 Minutes Ago

DISCLAIMER: This game features content that may be sensitive to some players.

THE CONTROVERSY

This game was originally released on Android but was later taken down after facing a heavy controversy, being featured on numerous Spanish media, including major newspapers, radio and television.

The game generated a great divide between those in favor of it, who believed the game was as valuable as any book or film on the genre, and those feverishly against, deeming games an inappropriate platform to experiment with serious issues such as terrorism.

It was soon after awarded Silver Medal at Serious Play Conference.

You can watch the designer's talk during GameDev Days Graz on YouTube, where he goes into further detail: 

THE GAME

One of the highlighted features in the game is the complex story structure, which forces you to replay the game through different characters in order to properly understand the full story. The numerous endings are due to the fact that, depending on the combination of characters you choose to play as during every minute, and their individual choices, not only are you able to unlock their memories, but also change their fate.

The game is only available in its original language, English.

The game has always been, and will always be, free.

THE HISTORY

As you may understand, the Basque Country has a very deep and complex history, but I'll try to summarize it as best as possible for those unacquaintanced with it.

The Basque Country is a region in Spain with a unique culture and a historically strong secessionist movement. During to Franco's dictatorship, Basque culture was heavily oppressed, which led to the terrorist movement under the name "ETA", with the intent to achieve full independence from Spain. Even after democracy was instated in Spain, ETA continued its activity, killing 864 people until their definitive cessation of its armed activity in 2011.

The wounds are still very fresh on many sides of the conflict. There has been no 'winners' in this history. Everyone's a loser. Whether they've lost people during Franco's regime, or under ETA's terrorist attacks, or due to police brutality, or countless other reasons. Not mentioning decades of repressed freedom of speech.

It is therefore no surprise that this game caused such a controversy on its release.

THE DESIGNER

As I said during my interview on TV, "you don't watch Schindler's List because it's a fun move, and you don't play 13 Minutes Ago because it's a fun game".

It's not a fun game. In fact, it's very small and experimental. It's far from a 'great game'.

However, I do hope games continue to push the boundaries of art, so that one day, games like "13 Minutes Ago", are not vilified, silenced and banned.